Elizabeth Cruz

Squires, Missouri

Elizabeth Cruz, 75 years, 3 months, 28 days old, passed away on August 19, 2021, at Cox South Hospital, Springfield, MO.

Elizabeth, born April 22, 1946, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, was one of three children born to Salvador and Laura (Robles) Cruz.

Elizabeth's early years were spent in southern California with her parents.

On April 11, 1965, Elizabeth and Pedro Cruz were united in marriage in Van Nuys, California and to this union three children were born.  She later married Enrique Montero in 1988.

She was born into the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, and for over 30 years she worked in the SDA Conference in Glendale, California then transferred to the SDA Conference in Orlando, Florida as an executive secretary of the church headquarters. She enjoyed her work immensely! She enjoyed helping people with information and guidance while at the same time strengthening her faith in God.

After retiring from her church work,  she spent the next 14 years helping her daughter, Elizabeth, as back-office support in her medical practice in Phoenix, Arizona but worked remotely the last 5 years from her farm in Squires. On the farm Elizabeth loved gardening, raising chickens & ducks, alpacas, and sheep along with her pet cats and dogs. She learned to cook at a very young age of 7. She enjoyed entertaining family and friends and always cooked an amazingly delicious meal. She was very passionate about her children and their care. Elizabeth often sacrificed her own needs to supply them the things they needed. Through the years she enjoyed playing the piano for the churches she attended and often filled the house with music from the piano. She was the director of the Pathfinder Club, the church's youth group, for over 35 years.  She had a sincere passion for the children and made a deep impact on many lives. She enjoyed taking them on camping trips, canoeing, hiking, cooking, nature walks, and taught them many excellent life lessons.  She emulated the love of Christ to all and never hesitated to open her home to someone in need.  No one was a stranger to her, and everyone fell in love with her smile and personality.  She was an amazing woman!

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, and grandson, Julian Lee Allen.

She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth Cruz and partner Tina Nunziato of Phoenix, AZ.; Julie Laura Cruz-Allen, of Squires, MO; and Sandra Cruz of Orlando, FL; along with 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; two brothers, Eliseo and wife Noelia Cruz of Ava, and James(Jamie) and wife Margaret Cruz of Fort Myers, FL.

Funeral services for Elizabeth will be held in Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava at 3:00 P.M. Saturday August 28, 2021, with visitation from 2:00 till 3:00 in the funeral home.

Burial will be in the Ava Cemetery.  Officiating will be Pastor Mitch Elrod. Memorials may be made to the Ava Seventh Day Adventist Church Pathfinder Club.