C.A. Cromwell II

Sooner football, the Thin Man movies, Poirot and The Big Bang Theory were some of Cromwell’s favorites in his later years. These programs were enjoyed all the more if someone was sitting and enjoying them with him. Before time crept up on him, he was always ready to go and see new places, new irises and new and old faces.

Chester Avery Cromwell II came into the world on August 15th, 1930 in Tulsa to Ruby and Chester Avery Cromwell. Being born into the Great Depression, he spent time with his grandparents in Thomas, Oklahoma and Gilmer, Texas when his parents were traveling Oklahoma for their jobs. His experiences and adventures lead to a life long fascination of people and many hysterical stories.

His mother enrolled him in the one room schoolhouse at the age of four due to Cromwell’s ability to tell time and spell hippopotamus. However, the majority of his schooling took place in Oklahoma City, between Culbertson Heights Elementary school, Taft Junior High and Central High School. After graduating at the age of sixteen, he attended Central State College where in his words he, “majored in playing pool and drinking beer”.

It was at Central State that he met the love of his life, Nancy Lee Leverich. They married on Thanksgiving Day of 1951 and celebrated their first anniversary with their two-week-old son, Charles. Having been an only child, Cromwell wanted to make sure Charles had a sibling and so Carol joined the family two years later. When they found themselves expecting again ten years later, they decided to have some fun by keeping it a secret as much as possible. It was a big surprise to his boss’s wife when she saw the birth announcement for Lisa in the paper.

Cromwell began working for Oklahoma Testing Laboratories and when their resident chemist retired, he was asked by the company to college to finish his degree and takeover the position. He would stay there until he was in his mid-seventies.

Besides his family and work, Cromwell competed and judge competitions for various Iris Societies around the state. He learned his love for hybridizing iris from his mother. Many evenings and Saturdays and most of his yard were taken with his hobby.

As much as he loved growing iris, Sunday was the Lord’s day. No matter what town or family member he was with Cromwell went to church. He grew up in First Baptist of Oklahoma City but once he married Nancy, he changed his denomination to presbyterian. Even with his failing health and the pandemic going on, Cromwell faithfully participated in First Presbyterian OKC’s services from his home.

Cromwell was married to the love of his life for 67 years. He leaves behind son, Charles Cromwell, daughter Carol Moorad and her husband, Richard, daughter Lisa Cochrane and her husband, John, granddaughters, Noelle Moorad and Holly Murphy and her husband, Brian and grandson, Robert Cochrane. While we will miss him, we take comfort in the knowledge that he is whole again in God’s presence and reunited with his loved ones.