Thomas Mack Crossland

Thomas Mack Crossland Thomas “Mack” Crossland passed away peacefully on December 19, 2021, at his home in Fort Gibson. He was 93. The son of Richard Mack Crossland and Jennie Hunt Clay, Mack was born in Webbers Falls, OK, on November 10, 1928. The family moved to Muskogee in the early 1930s where Mack and his siblings attended Sacred Heart Catholic School. He graduated from Northeastern State University with a B.A. in 1963. In 1970, he earned an M.S. in Housing and Urban Development from the University of Tulsa. He was awarded a Ph.D. from Pacific Western University in 1989. The focus of this degree was Counseling Psychology. He practiced most of his career throughout Oklahoma and South Texas. He accepted an opportunity to spend one year of his practice in Germany. Mack took pride in his accomplishments. He applied himself to a variety of work situations throughout his life. He was a telegrapher for the Katy Railroad, a police officer in the Muskogee Police Department, and the first-appointed Housing Director for the Cherokee Nation Housing Authority. In this role, he worked closely with Chief William Keeler to plan and implement the construction of hundreds of houses for Tribal communities across the state. Mack had a love for aviation. He received his license to fly at age 16 before he even had a driver’s license. He was well-known at Hatbox Field, Davis Field, and the airstrip at Western Hills Lodge. He would often fly his family and friends to events (such as bowling tournaments) in order to save them from a long and boring drive. He loved to share the antics of his pilot life. One of his most notable stories included barely missing a deer on takeoff at Western Hills. Once he flew his plane under a bridge. He became a hero to his two youngest children by flying to Wewoka to rescue them from summer camp. Other interests were mastering the Spanish language, keeping up with professional journals and research, maintaining international correspondence, and travel. Mack was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 47 years, Phyllis Crossland; his first and second wives; siblings Marie Hobdy of Roswell, NM; Margaret Radeker of Muskogee, OK; Mary Evelyn Nevitt of Muskogee, and Richard Rome Crossland of Muskogee. He is survived by his children: Dr. Thomas M. Logan (and wife Ceci) of Longview, TX; Deborah A. Crossland of Scottsdale, AZ; Susan Diane Morse (and husband Bill) of Red Lodge, MT; Cynthia J. Crossland of Owasso, OK; Thomas S. Crossland of Muskogee, OK; and Candice Juergens (and husband, David) of Tulsa, OK. Grandchildren: Ryan Crossland (and wife Samantha) of Minneapolis, MN; Lisa Logan of Cottage Grove, MN; Amy Logan of Benton, LA; Kevin Crossland of Muskogee, Justin Crossland of Stillwater, Amanda Walker of Muskogee, and three great-grandchildren. A small memorial service will be planned for a later date with Cornerstone Funeral Home.

Thomas Mack Crossland

November 10, 1928 - December 19, 2021