Mervin L. Cruthis (88) of Troy, Il born near Sorento, IL died December 16, 2024, at Carlyle Healthcare & Senior Living Center in Carlyle, IL.
He attended Sorento Schools through his junior year and graduated from Greenville H.S. in 1954. During his last 3 years of high school, he worked at Continental Can Co. in Elwood, IN. He enrolled at Eastern Illinois Univ. in 1954 and worked summers at American Can Co. in Hoopston, IL.
After his sophomore year, he left school to join the Marine Corps and was sent to boot camp in San Diego, CA. After boot camp, he was sent to 18 weeks at radio-telegraph school and was then stationed at 29 Palms, CA. for the rest of his enlistment. He received an honorable discharge in 1958, enrolled at SIU Alton campus and married Nova M. Davie on January 2, 1959.
He worked summers at the city golf course in Alton and Sunset Hills course in Edwardsville. While finishing his degree, he was hired in 1959 to teach in the Alton schools. In the 10 years at Alton, he taught and coached at Washington, Mark Twain, and Milton grade schools and Central Jr. H.S. While working in the Alton schools, he coached basketball, cross country and track.
In 1969, he was hired by the Southwestern School District to teach history and coach basketball. During his 22 years there, he taught history and drivers education, coached basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball.
His last 8 years were spent as an administrator at the high school. In 1991, his girls’ basketball team finished 3rd in the IHSA state tournament. During 18 years of his teaching career, he worked midnights and afternoons as a security guard at Laclede Steel Co. in Alton, IL.
He retired from Southwestern in 1991 and went to work the next day as a security supervisor at the new Alton Belle Casino in Alton, IL. He enjoyed the work there very much and was appointed director of security in 1998. He retired from that job in 2001 and went to work as an armed guard for Homeland Security in East St. Louis, Belleville, Fairview Heights, Carbondale, Effingham, Alton, and Litchfield during his 6 years there.
Also during those 6 years, he taught for one year at Alton Marquette and coached women’s basketball for 6 years before retiring for the final time. In 2009, he was hired as an assistant basketball coach at Lebanon H.S., where he again was able be part of another 3rd place finish in the IHSA girls’ basketball state tournament in 2018 coaching with his son Chad.
He was preceded in death by his parents Mart Cruthis and Eva (Overstreet) Cruthis, a sister Erlynne (Cruthis) Saathoff, his wife of 23 years Nova (Davie) Cruthis, a grandson Dakota Radcliffe, and one stepson Kenny Lavora. Survived by his children Sabrina (Jim) Radcliffe, Brett (Jenny) Cruthis and Chad (Kirsta) Cruthis; Stepchildren Rich Lawson, Everett Lawson and Roberta Lawson. Also surviving are his grandchildren Shonna Miller, Alichia Kirgan, Mike Dickinson, Cheriann Bathon, Hanlynn Vahlkamp, Chase Cruthis, Olivia Rhoad, Jackson Cruthis, Laura McClenagan; Greatgrandchildren Nicholas, Justen, Maciann, Jaden, Nova, Alannah, Kaleigh, Madelyn, Madden, Elliott, Dulaney, Ellie; Great Greatgrandchildren Freddie
Merv will be cremated with a Celebration of Life to be held at Anderson Funeral Home in Brighton, IL on Saturday December 28, 2024, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. His ashes will be buried with his beloved wife, Nova, in Brown Cemetery near Old Ripley, IL.
Memorials may be directed to American Cancer Society.
Condolences may be left online at www.andersonfamilyfuneral.com.
