Carolyn Cruz…February 17, 1957 – July 10, 2019

Funeral Services for Syracuse, Kansas resident Carolyn Cruz will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 15, 2019 at Southern Baptist Church in Syracuse, Kansas. Interment will follow in Syracuse Cemetery. Visitation for Carolyn will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 14, 2019 and 9:00 a.m. to service time on Monday, July 15, 2019 at Southern Baptist Church in Syracuse, Kansas.

Carolyn Rae Cruz was born on February 17, 1957 to Henry E. and Eva Jane (Jantz) Schmidt in Wichita, Kansas. She lived in Derby, Kansas until the family moved to a farm North of Ulysses, Kansas in 1962. She attended Red Rock Country School in Grant County, Kansas until moving to Syracuse in 1970. There she graduated from Syracuse High School in 1975. She then moved to Garden City, Kansas where she worked as a nurse’s aide. She returned to Syracuse, Kansas to help at the family business, Hank’s Dairy King, until the family sold the business. Carolyn married Tony Cruz, Jr. December 20, 1986. Due to her husband’s illness, she became a stay-at-home caregiver until his death in 2013. She then became a custodian at Syracuse High School until her health declined. She loved her dogs, enjoyed working in her yard, watching youtube videos and Kansas Jayhawk Basketball. Carolyn passed away on July 10, 2019 at Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, Kansas at the age of 62.

She is survived by her mother, Eva Jane Schmidt of Syracuse, KS; daughter, Mindy Cruz of Syracuse, KS; brother, Steve (Linda) Schmidt of Syracuse, KS; sister, Robyn Schmidt of Lawrence, KS; she is also survived by Tony’s children, Kurtis (Irena) Cruz of Syracuse, KS, Albert (Maria) Cruz of Garden City, KS, Monica (Les) Miller of Dodge City, KS; and multiple nieces and nephews.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband, Tony Cruz, Jr. in 2013; father, Henry E. Schmidt in 1986; brother, Terril Schmidt in 2012; and Tony’s daughter, Michelle Cruz in 1985.

Memorial contributions may be made in Carolyn’s name in care of Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 950 Lamar, CO. 81052.

For more information or to leave online condolences, please visit www.valleymemorialfc.com.