Elva Rosalie Croy

grandmother passed away peacefully on February 3rd, 2024. She was 97 years old,

Elva lived a long full life that was filled with the love of her family and friends and she was able

to know and love many of the four generations who followed her. Those four generations of

family loved her more than she will ever know.

Elva, or Grandma or MeMaw or Great Momma, as she was known to the family, was born in

Rosebud, Texas on December 19, 1926. She grew up in a farming community and attended

schools in Rosebud and Westfalia, graduating from Rosebud High School in 1943. She lived

and worked on the family’s farm as a young girl and learned the meaning of hard work at an

early age. Living through the Great Depression helped her to develop a strong work ethic and

she embraced the Christian values that her family lived by. Those values were passed down to

her children and their children and their children.

Elva worked at several jobs, including a cafe waitress and a telephone operator until she met

her husband, John D. Croy at Fort Hood, Texas. John, or PawPaw, was serving with the US

Army 2nd Armored Division at that time. Elva and John were married on February 3rd, 1949.

This union produced five children and remained strong until his death in 1999. Elva passed

away on what would have been their 75th anniversary.

Later in her life Elva worked for many years as an order processor in the mail order department

at Montgomery Wards in Fort Worth, Texas. She retired from there in 1985.

After retirement Elva and John enjoyed life on their farm near Burleson where they raised cattle.

That farm was her residence when she passed away. They were also charter members of

Charity Lutheran Church in Burleson where Elva remained a member until her death.

Many family get-togethers were held at their farm and those times won’t be forgotten by her

family. At Thanksgiving and Christmas everyone looked forward to her turkey and dressing.

They also traveled often to Virginia to visit John’s family where Elva developed lifetime

relationships with his family. After John’s death, Elva traveled with her many friends and

enjoyed many club activities that included rug hooking. She traveled to places like Niagara

Falls, Ireland, and even Singapore.

Elva’s life was unique in many ways. She saw the Great Depression, man landing on the moon,

World War II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, The Gulf War, and The Afghanistan War.

She grew up when electricity wasn’t available in many areas of Texas and telephones were

unheard of, as well. She saw so many technical advances in the world yet she kept up with

every new thing that came along, including cell phones. She had a cell phone and a laptop

computer and could navigate email and texting like a pro. She was incredibly resilient and

strong and could take on any challenge, especially when it came to providing for her family.

Elva is survived by her children Dortha Dickerson and her husband Dell; Cindy Stuart; David

Croy and his wife Liz; and Vickie Pierce and her husband Dale. 9 grandchildren, 17 great

grandchildren, and 6 great great grandchildren.

Elva was preceded in death by her loving husband John, her oldest daughter Marie, her great

granddaughter Kynlee Jaide, her great granddaughter McKenzie, her parents, Dora and Lee

Hering, and her sisters Dorothy Curry and Beatrice Evans.

The family would like to thank the staff at Town Hall Estates in Keene, Texas and the staff at

Heart to Heart Hospice Care in Fort Worth for the special care they provided for our mother.