Shirley H. Croisant

Shirley H. Croisant, 91, formerly a resident of Muskogee, passed away Friday, December 20, 2013 in Tulsa, Oklahoma after a brief illness. She was born October 7, 1922, to Frederick R. and Melitona (Villarreal) Harris in Chicago, Illinois. Shortly after Shirley was born, her family moved due to her father’s job and settled in Texas. She grew up in Austin near the Texas State Capital. Her family remembers fondly her telling of “cutting through” the Capital building to attend school. Her family moved to Muskogee when she was a senior in high school. After graduating from Muskogee Central High School she attended Stephen’s College in Columbia, Missouri. She completed her education at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree. After college Shirley began her career working for the Muskogee Daily Phoenix, where she used her degree in journalism. She left the paper to be at home until her youngest child was in grade school. She reentered the work force in 1960 as an administrative assistant with the USDA Soil Conservation Service office here in Muskogee, from which she retired in 1984. In 1944 she married William T. (Tom) Croisant. They made their home in Muskogee and raised their four children here. Shirley and Tom were married for 48 years until Tom’s death in 1992. Shirley’s favorite pastime was playing bridge. She was a member of several bridge clubs and played as a guest in several others while in Muskogee. After retirement she and Tom traveled extensively throughout the United States. She also enjoyed traveling on a number of trips to Europe. After moving to Tulsa in 1995, in addition to finding new bridge friends, she decided to become a volunteer. Her most important commitment in her later years was the time she devoted to her grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, William T. (Tom) Croisant who passed away in 1992, and her sister, Beverly H. Dowell who passed away in 2013. Shirley is survived by her children, William T. Croisant, Jr. and wife Pamela of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kenneth R. Croisant and wife Mary Kay of Cincinnati, Ohio, Rebecca Croisant of Cushing, Oklahoma, and Kirby L. Croisant and wife Bobbi of Tulsa, Oklahoma; her grandchildren, Diana Croisant, John Croisant and wife Deborah, Jennifer Vandeventer and husband Michael, Joseph Croisant and wife Maria, David Croisant, Elizabeth Croisant, and Michael Croisant; her great grandchildren, Tyler Clark, Sophia Croisant, Hayden Croisant, Zoe Croisant; and many other friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Shirley at 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 27, 2013, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 323 N. Virginia Street, Muskogee, Oklahoma with Monsignor Patrick Gaalaas as celebrant. Entombment will be in Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Shirley H. Croisant

October 7, 1922 - December 20, 2013