Hugh Tom Crider

Published courtesy of the Cordell Beacon

© Cordell Beacon

Funeral services for Hugh Tom Crider will be held Thursday, March 13, 2003 at the Churchj of Christ in Cordell, Oklahoma with H.L. Shirey officiating. Services are under the direction of Jack Loftiss Funeral Home, Cordell, Oklahoma.

Tom was born December 28, 1903 in Indian Territory to Eliza (Knight) and Clarence Crider. He went to his eternal reward Sunday, March 9, 2003. He was 99 years old.

Tom met and married Agnes Ward. They were maried 72 years and to this union three children were born, Jackie, Ted and Tommy.

He attended school at Mount Pleasant Elementary and Cordell High School.

Tom served in the Army Air Service in 1920, served as Government Appeals Agent for Washita County during WWII, worked at Burns Flat Naval Station as Superintendent of the Light & Water Department, worked for Bell Telephone and was a life long farmer.

He owned and operated a small cafe known as "The Joint" on east Main Street.

Tom had 40 years service to the City of Cordell serving as a special policeman, City Council, head of the street department and Mayor for 16 of those years. He said it took "Good Christians, good churches and a good school system to make a good city."

He was a member of the Cordell Church of Christ for 63 years and served as a deacon. Tom always felt his greatest wealth was his family.

Tom is survived by his sons Ted Crider and Tom Crider and wife, Shirley; grandchildren Pat Ayres, Cathy Silvers, Barbara Osteen, Joe Ayres, Carol Anne Spring, Connie Miller, Tommy Wyatt Crider and Carrie Fortna, 17 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Agnes, daughter Jackie Ayres, granddaughters Teddie Ann Ayres and Christy Jan Mead and two great grandchildren Michael and Jackie Richardson.