Juanita Cruse

Juanita Cruse, a beloved homemaker, left this world on June 28, 2025, at the Magnolia Regional Health Care Center in Corinth, Mississippi. Born on January 1, 1932, in Jackson, Tennessee, Juanita was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose warm spirit and dedication to her family will be cherished forever.

For over two decades, Juanita and her husband, Leslie Cruse, made their home in Gary, Indiana, before returning to Pocahontas, Tennessee, in 1985. Their journey was marked by love, laughter, and a commitment to building a nurturing environment for their children. Juanita's nurturing nature extended beyond her family; she was a very active member of the Pocahontas First Baptist Church, where she made lasting friendships and touched many lives with her kindness.

Juanita found great joy in her hobbies, particularly gardening. She possessed a remarkable green thumb, tending to her garden with care and dedication. Juanita often enjoyed mowing her yard, proving her tireless spirit as she continued to do so into her 90s. Her days were filled with the satisfaction of trimming bushes and canning goods from her garden, surrounded by the beauty of the outdoors that she loved so dearly.

Her family continues to honor her memory, including her daughter, Debbie Daugherty and Ken of Mountain Home, Arkansas, and her sons, Lenny Cruse and Debbie and Steve "Rudy" Cruse, both of Pocahontas. Juanita was a proud grandmother to Kevin and Brian Daugherty, Stephanie, Jenny Cruse Werner, and Wendy Cruse Knapp, and she delighted in the presence of her six great-grandchildren, who brought immense joy to her life.

Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin Thomas Swinford and Ottie Pearl Talley Swinford, her beloved husband Leslie, and her siblings—three sisters and two brothers. As we reflect on her remarkable life, we are reminded of the love she shared, the laughter she inspired, and the legacy she leaves behind in the hearts of her family and friends.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects during visitation on July 3, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 PM, held at the Pocahontas First Baptist Church, located at 270 Main Street, Pocahontas, TN.

Juanita Cruse’s spirit will live on in the stories shared, the gardens tended, and the hearts she has touched throughout her beautiful life.  Memorial contributions in her name may be sent to Pocahontas First Baptist Church or Hardeman Adoptable Animals, PO Box 513, Bolivar, TN 38008.