Terry Jane Crofford

Terry Jane Crofford, 73, of Stroud, OK passed away on Tuesday, August 01, 2023, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Terry was born on March 27, 1950, to Harold and Emma Jane Soward in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. She was a 1968 graduate of Stroud High School. She attended church at Stroud First Baptist. She worked as an Executive Secretary for Kerr McGee. Terry became a member of Beta Sigma Phi in 1993. She served as the Stroud Chamber of Commerce Secretary from 1992 to 2005.

Terry married James Crofford in 1990 and by June 1991 they got pregnant with their little girl, Rachel. Rachel was born March 10, 1992, 17 days before Terry’s 42nd birthday. Terry always said Rachel was the best gift she had ever received and her most cherished prayer answered.

Terry enjoyed cooking, baking, pottery, sewing, tailoring clothes, arts and crafts, and cake decorating. As to which she graciously shared her many talents with the community of Stroud. Terry always helped anyone and everyone she could. She was an extremely caring person and loved to volunteer, especially when it came to her daughter Rachel and functions at school.

She started the Miracle of Christmas Store in the back of the chamber office, with food items, clothing, and treats for the little ones. Later that turned into the food bank, which is continued today, run by volunteers helping each month. She recorded the Stroud Brick and Rolling Pin Competition each year. Terry served on the Miss Stroud Pageant Committee from 1997 to 2005. She took entries, designed the pageant programs, helped with clothing, decorating contestant rooms, and assisted at Miss Oklahoma along with Georgia Wolff and Linda Stephens. She made most of her daughter Rachel's clothes while she was growing up, along with her mother Jane. She hand stitched pictures to frame, bedding, towels handkerchiefs, napkins, quilts, and clothing. She liked to crochet blankets, quilt, and make stuffed animals. She made mittens, booties, and bonnets or caps for any family or friends who had a baby. She could craft pottery decorations, mugs, steins, and plates. Terry was an amazing cake decorator and enjoyed baking cakes for her family. She loved to make Rachel's birthday cake each year along with treats for all her school holiday parties, and everyone looked forward to it. Terry also enjoyed reading to third grade at the school and baking them homemade cookies, and cupcakes for their holiday parties. Terry was very proud that she could help Stroud FFA and other organizations raise money each year by donating her desserts for auctions or fundraisers.

Terry is preceded in death by her father Harold Russell Soward, mother Emma Jane Soward and Rachel’s father James Robert Crofford.

She is survived by one daughter, Rachel (Crofford) Thiel and husband Derrick of Cushing, OK, brother Gary Soward and wife Jan of Tulsa, OK; nephew Chance Soward and his children Alyssa Soward and her finance Kyle Baker and Ayden Soward; nephew Aaron Soward and wife Melinda and their children Henry, Talulah, and Flynn.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 10th, 2023, from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Parks Brothers Funeral Service Stroud in Stroud. Funeral services will be on Friday, August 11th, 2023, at 10:00 AM in the Stroud First Baptist Church with Pastor James Bond officiating. The burial will take place at Stroud Cemetery. Condolences may be offered online at www.parksbrothers.net. Care Services are Parks Brothers Funeral Services of Stroud, Oklahoma.