Mildred Evelyn Cruze, 99, of Franklin, TN, passed away October 9, 2017.

Mildred was born February 18, 1917, in Kodak, Sevier County, TN, to Willis Clay and Belva Delozier White.

Graduating from Porter High School in 1937, Mildred earned a degree from Knoxville General Hospital School of Nursing in 1940.  She worked as an RN in private duty in the Knoxville area and also as an employee at both Knoxville and Nashville General Hospitals, retiring finally in 1977.

On February 6, 1941, she married Ray E. Cruze.  After Ray returned from WWII service, they lived in Knoxville and, in 1946, had a daughter, Cheryl.  They moved to Nashville in 1952, had a son, John, that same year and returned to Knoxville in 1955.  Moving again to Nashville in 1958, Ray and Mildred lived in the same house in the Glenview area until moving in 2002 to Windsor Park Senior Community in nearby Franklin.  Mildred was a longtime member of Arlington United Methodist Church, working with various committees.  She loved helping Cheryl with the grandchildren, having a yard full of plants and flowers for them to enjoy, cooking memorable meals and treats for all.

Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Cruze, her parents, Willis and Belva White; brothers, LC and John White; and sister, Charlotte Kirkland. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Allen Patton; her son and daughter-in-law, John and Carolyn Cruze; three grandchildren, Virginia (Patton) Laird, Elizabeth (Patton) Ivanovich and David Patton; sister, Carolyn (White) Stubblefield; brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Norma Jean White: two great-grandchildren, Sophia and Grant Laird; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Mrs. Cruze will be Thursday, October 12, 2017, from 4:00 thru 8:00 pm, and again Friday from 10:30 thru 11:30; a Celebration of Life will begin at 11:30 at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home.

Source: https://www.harpethhills.com/obit/mildred-evelyn-cruze/