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 Harvey
Harold Cryar was born in Honey Island, Texas on August 9, 1925. He
passed away at his home in Conroe, Texas on January 19, 2013 at the age
of 87. Harold is preceded in death by mother and father Lera Faye and
Harvey Jackson Cryar, and sister Doris Maddline Schrock. He is survived
by wife Caroline Carson Berry Cryar, daughter & son-in-law Carol Ann &
Kendall Casseres Palmer, son & partner Carson Harold Cryar & Franklin
Hollenbeck, grandsons Jeremiah (Yida), Jerome (Cristie), Malcolm
(Kristy), & Thomas Casseres Palmer, great grandchildren Dakota &
Madelyn, brother John Garland Cryar, niece & nephews Lera Jones, Robert
(Bobby) Schrock, Tuck Cryar, & Philip Cryar, & numerous cousins.
Harold's survivors also include family members "by choice" Gilbert &
Debbie Recio, Oscar & Delmy Avelar and their sons Heber, Oscar, Michael,
and Max, Billy & Tammy Lyons & their children Jake & Sarahbeth, & Lou &
Manuel Perea & family. Growing up, Harold had a wonderful childhood in
Baytown, Texas and later in Old Humble Camp to the east of Conroe in
Montgomery County. He was a member of the Sea Scouts (Boy Scouts) and
numerous athletic teams. He enjoyed hunting and playing with his gang of
friends in Humble Camp. He was a star receiver on the Conroe High School
varsity football team of 1943. Harold served in the U.S.
Navy during WWII
in
both the Pacific (plankowner of USS Bougainville) and Atlantic (USS
Mispillion) Oceans. In 2010, he was proud and delighted to be a member
of Honor Flight 4, flying from Montgomery County, Texas to Washington,
DC to visit the WWII Memorial. His daughter was extremely proud to
accompany him as his guardian. Following the war, he returned to Conroe
to work for Humble Oil Company while working on his Bachelor degree at
Texas A&M College and Sam Houston State University. After receiving his
degree from SHSU in 1952, he went to work for
Conroe ISD. In 1962, he received a
Master of Education degree from SHSU. He worked for CISD for 28 years,
retiring in 1981. During his years at CISD, he was a teacher, coach,
Principal (Travis JHS), and Assistant Superintendent for Personnel.
After retirement he served as a member of the CISD Board of Trustees for
five terms, making a 43 total years of service to the Conroe Independent
School District. In 1998, Harold was honored to serve as the Grand
Marshal of the Conroe Kiwanis Christmas Parade. He also enjoyed "serving
time in jail" to raise funds for the Montgomery County Crimestoppers in
1991. But his greatest accomplishment, and the one of which he was most
proud, was having the
Harold Cryar Intermediate school named in his honor. The
school opened in 2004 with a wonderful reception in his honor. Harold
spent many years as a member of Conroe Rotary
Club.
He received the Paul Harris Award multiple times. He loved serving the
Conroe community. One of his favorite activities was leading the "I Like
Me" book program, which provides personalized books for elementary
school students. Another organization that was dear to Harold was the
Conroe Symphony Orchestra. He spent many years on the Board of Directors
for the symphony and greatly enjoyed their performances. Harold led a
Christian-centered life. As a youth, he served the Humble Camp Baptist
Church as a janitor. He joined the First Methodist Church of Conroe
before his marriage to Caroline. He was a faithful servant of the
church, serving in many capacities from usher to church Board Member. He
co-authored, with Dearing Jones and a committee, a history book of the
First Methodist Church of Conroe, titled Upon this Rock. He married the
love of his life, Caroline Carson Berry, on June 9, 1951. The ceremony
was performed by Reverend Merchant. They had 2 children, Carol and
Carson. Although Harold dearly loved his work for CISD, there was never
a doubt that his family came first. He was the best husband, Papa, and
friend that any man could ever be. We would like to thank all of the
people at The Gathering Place for being a source of joy and light over
the past year. We give our love and gratitude to Home Instead employees
Brenda, George, Kimberly, Kiki, and others who sat lovingly with Harold
during his illness. And we are thankful for all the people, including
Melanie, Laura, Ray, Martin, Louise, Christy, Tracy, and others at
Lighthouse Hospice who have been so kind and helpful to our family in
the last few weeks. If you choose to make a donation in Harold's honor,
please consider giving to either The Gathering Place at First United
Methodist Church of Conroe (4308 W Davis St, Conroe, TX 77304), the
scholarship fund at the Montgomery County Association of Retired School
Personnel (c/o Margaret Goldfinch, PO Box 2325, Conroe, TX 77305), or
the Conroe Symphony Orchestra (call 936-760-2144). Funeral services will
be performed by Reverend Bill Taylor at First United Methodist Church
Conroe at 1 PM on Friday, January 25, 2013. Pallbearers are Oscar Avelar,
Philip Cryar, Tuck Cryar, Billy Lyons, Berkley McComb, Thomas Palmer,
and Don Stockton. Honorary pallbearers include all members of the Conroe
ISD Board of Trustees past and present, all staff members of Conroe ISD
who worked with or for Harold in previous years, all former students,
Dr. Glen Berwick, Andy Walker, Glenn "Skip" McClellan, and surviving
classmates of the Conroe High School classes of 1943 & 1944. You are
invited to view the guest book and leave written condolences to the
family at
www.cashnerconroe.com
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January 22, 2013
Services Set for Long Time Educator
By Tori Brock
A
name set in bold, white letters is hardly the only legacy Harold Cryar leaves behind.
The longtime Conroe Independent School
District educator, coach, member of the board of trustees and namesake of the Harold Cryar Intermediate School passed away at the age of 87 at his home in Conroe Saturday.
Former student and friend John
Husbands recalls Cryar fondly, both from his time as a student at Travis Junior High School and later as a fellow member of Rotary International.
“I first met Mr. Cryar when I was a
sixth-grader in 1971,” Husbands said. “Harold was a tremendous educator, then community supporter. He always cared about children.”
Husbands said Cryar’s success in life came
from the ability to touch lives through education and community involvement.
“Even after his retirement, he was very
supportive of Cryar Intermediate School,” Husbands said. “I would go there and he’d be there listening to the band or the orchestra or viewing a one-act play. He had so much pride in the children.”
CISD Superintendent Dr. Don Stockton said
Cryar dedicated his life to the school district.
“Mr. Cryar was a student, teacher, coach,
principal, assistant superintendent, and trustee over a 43-year time span,” Stockton said. “His kind heart and compassion greatly impacted the lives of thousands of students and adults. The Conroe ISD will always be grateful for Mr. Cryar and will
proudly carry on his legacy.”
Don Stocking served on the Rotary board with
Cryar. Calling his old friend “delightful,” Stocking said Cryar was a major supporter of the Rotary “I Like Me” book program, which provides a personalized book to first-graders in the Conroe ISD.
“He was proud of that program,” Stocking said. “He knew young children who may have had no books of their own in their homes would be receiving a book. He was a real good example of what Rotarians are like and the
ethics they hold.”
Harvey Harold Cryar was born in Honey Island,
Texas, on Aug. 9, 1925, and passed away at his home in Conroe Saturday.
He was a member of the Sea Scouts (Boy
Scouts) and was a star receiver on the Conroe High School varsity football team in 1943. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before completing an education degree from Sam Houston State University. He later received his Master of Education
degree from SHSU.
In addition to a 28-year career with the
Conroe Independent School District, he served five terms as a member of the CISD Board of Trustees. Harold Cryar Intermediate School was named in Cryar’s honor in 2004.
Cryar served as a member of the Rotary
International Board, as well as a member of the board of directors for the Conroe Symphony Orchestra.
Cryar was an active member of the First
Methodist Church of Conroe and co-wrote “Upon This Rock,” a history of the church. He married Caroline Carson Berry in 1951, and the couple had two children, Carol and Carson.
Funeral services will start at
1 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church of Conroe with the Rev. Bill Taylor officiating. To leave online condolences, visit www.cashnerconroe.com
The Courier
January 24, 2013 |
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