Arturo Z. Cruz

Arturo Z. Cruz lost his fifth battle to cancer on Oct. 12, 2015 in his home surrounded by his loving family and friends. Arturo was born on July 10, 1935 in Asherton, Texas to Cleofas Cruz and Refugia Zamora Cruz. He lived in Texas for 26 years where he met the love of his life, Anita Trujillo, whom he later married on Jan. 21, 1955. The first twelve years of marriage Arturo and Anita traveled from state to state as migrant workers and ended up in Moses Lake, Wash. in 1961 where they bought their lifelong home. Arturo worked with Hara Farms, Forest Lybbert Farms and Hugh Baker Farms before working for Americold for 17 years where he retired in 1997.

Anyone who knew Arturo knew that if they came to his house, he would welcome them with open arms. He enjoyed working in his garden where he grew tomatoes and jalapeños for his daughters to can chile (salsa) as a yearly tradition with their mom. Another fond memory that he shares with his sons is butchering pigs to feed their entire family at many family gatherings. Arturo took a lot of pride in his yard and spent many long hours outside enjoying the sunshine, eating watermelon and making his famous homemade snow cones for all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed camping in Republic, Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens with all his family as well as going fishing.

Arturo enjoyed watching sports and traveling to games out of town to watch his sons, grandkids and great grandkids play sports. He loved going to watch the Seattle Mariner’s at both the King Dome as well as at Safeco Field.

Arturo and Anita started their legacy with six children; Dalia (Leo) Cortez, David Cruz, Armando Cruz, Monica (James) Smith, Sylvia (Cody) Hutchison, Arturo Jr. (Suzanne Trowbridge) Cruz, 26 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Cleofas and Refugia Cruz, his brother Alonzo Cruz, his first born son Arturo Jr, his granddaughter Amy Cruz and his great-grandchildren Elizabeth Navarro and Isaiah Medina.

The family would like to give special thanks to the Columbia Basin Cancer Society of Moses Lake, Northwest Cancer Treatment Center in Spokane, Assured Hospice of Moses Lake and all of the family and friends that supported Arturo through the 13 long years he fought his battle with cancer.

Holy Rosary will be prayed at 9:30 a.m., Friday, Oct. 16, 2015 followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. Interment will be in Guarding Angels Cemetery, 2595 Road L NE, Moses Lake. Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel & Crematory.