Anita Kruse Erwin

Anita Lavelle Kruse Erwin, 95, died Friday, May 5, 2026 at the Good Life Senior Living.

A funeral service for Anita will be Thursday morning at 11:00 am, May 14, 2026, at the Ira Baptist Church with Mark McMillan officiating. Interment will follow at the Ira Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.

Anita was born to Amil & Lois Moore Kruse November 24, 1930. She married Robert Erwin August 18, 1949 in Colorado City. The couple spent a few years living in Midland Texas then return to Ira and celebrated 72 year of marriage before Robert preceded her in death. Ira was their forever home and they never wanted to live any place else. Anita was a rural mail carrier for 25 year carrying the Route 2 out of Snyder. They both graduated from Ira High School and proudly supported the Ira Bulldogs through the years. They rarely missed a game and were devoted fans of every Bulldog team.

When their granddaughter Tammy attended Roscoe, they enjoyed being close enough to watch her play basketball. Later granddaughters Jana and Sahala competed in rodeo at WTC, Anita and Robert became dedicated supporters of the WTC rodeo program. They traveled to college rodeos across the country and quickly became known as "Granny and Granddaddy to an entire generation of college rodeo students. Anita was honored with the WTC Outrider Buckles and was famous for the brownies, red velvet cakes, and pecan pies she lovingly baked for the rodeo team.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert, her parents, Amil & Lois, five brothers, Bo Kruse, Harold Gene Kruse, Mack Kruse, Corky Kruse, and Robert Kruse.

She is survived by two daughters, Diane Ejem and husband Joe and Annette Mccloy and husband Mark. And four granddaughters, Jana Mitchell and husband Jake, Saha la Gaillard and husband Lance, Holly McLain and husband Buster, and Tammy Cunningham and husband Matthew. Nine great grandchildren Gus Gaillard, Sage Gaillard, Pratt Mclain, Halle Mclain; Rebekah Cunningham, Miles Mclain, Hollyn Mitchell, James Cunningham and Hadley Mitchell, One sister-in-law, Shirley Kruse of Concord, Ca. and several nieces and nephews.

Anita was a devoted member of the Ira Baptist Church and a Life time member ofthe PTA.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to caregivers Roy and Emma Brazile and the staff at Good Live Senior Living.

Memorials can be made to the WTC Rodeo Scholarship Fund.