Shadel Wayne Cruit, age 75 of Havelock, North Carolina, was born the son of Robert Freeman and Verna Mae (Flowers) Cruit on March 5, 1947 , in Mobile, Alabama, where he was the first of his family to be born in a hospital. Wayne spent the early years of his life in Mobile, Alabama. He graduated from Murphy High School in 1965. While working in Yellowstone National Park during summer break from The University of Southern Alabama, he received his draft notice from the Army, but he enlisted in the Marine Corps instead on February 27, 1968. After Marine Corps boot camp in Paris Island, SC and Aviation Maintenance Training in Millington, TN, Private First Class Wayne Cruit reported for duty at 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in El Toro, CA in December 1968.  In July 1969, Wayne deployed to Chu Lai Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam.  Upon returning from Vietnam, Sgt Wayne Cruit reported for duty as an instructor at Naval Aviation Technical Training Center in Millington, TN. While at this duty station, he met and married the love of his life, Miss Cathy Jo Rasmussen in Millington, TN, on July 2, 1971.  Wayne and Cathy Jo would spend more than fifty years in marriage during his Marine Corps career and beyond. After a tour as an instructor at NATTC in Millington, Sgt Cruit was sent to MAG-12 in Iwakuni, Japan for year-long deployment.  After returning from Iwakuni, Wayne was promoted to Staff Non-Commissioned Officer rank for another tour as instructor at NATTC Millington. In March 1979, Gunnery Sergeant Wayne Cruit and his family reported to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC, for duty at 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.  Wayne would perform additional 12-month tours with MAG-12 in Okinawa and Iwakuni, while his family remained at MCAS Cherry Point, NC. Master Gunnery Sergeant Wayne Cruit and his family spent a tour in New Orleans as the Ground Support Equipment Chief of 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, followed by another tour back at MCAS Cherry Point as the Ground Support Equipment Chief of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

After 30 years of faithful and honorable service, Wayne retired from the Marine Corps at the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant of Marines on March 1,1998.  For his unwavering service to our country, Wayne's personal awards include, the Navy & Marine Corps Commendation medal with one star, the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Marine Corps Good Conduct medal with 8 stars, National Defense Service Medal with one star, Vietnam Service Medal with one star, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one star.  After retirement, Wayne continued his support for the military aviation community as he transitioned to a second eighteen year career with DynCorp in support of Navy and Marine Corps Depot Level Aviation Maintenance before retiring in 2017.

Wayne passed away peacefully at the age of 75 surrounded by his family on February 20, 2023 in Denton, TX.  Having recently moved to Argyle, TX to be closer to his family, Wayne spent his final days in the loving care of his family surrounded by his wife, daughter and grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father Robert Freeman Cruit, his mother Verna Mae Flowers, and brothers George Wendell Cruit, James Riley Cruit, and Roger Freeman Cruit. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 52 years, Cathy Jo (Rasmussen) Cruit of Argyle, TX; son, James Duncan (Karen) of Plumas Lake, CA; daughter, Adina Mattix (Kevin) of Argyle, TX; grandchildren, Dean Duncan of Plumas Lake, CA, David Duncan of Midland, TX, Alex Mattix (Pam) of Tunkhannock, PA, Lauren Mattix of Frisco, TX, CJ Duncan of Arcata, CA, Addison Mattix, Zackary Mattix, Zeke Mattix, and Zane Mattix of Argyle, TX; great grandchildren, Melanie Duncan, Amara Duncan, and Samuel Duncan; and sisters, Frances Sexton of Norman, OK, and Janna Gilmore (Randall) of Mobile, AL.  In addition to enjoying time with his family, Wayne enjoyed hunting and fishing, spending time doing crossword puzzles, and reading books on the old West. He was also an avid NASCAR fan and die-hard Alabama football fan.

Following public visitation from 10:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m., Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Friday, March 3, 2023 at Johnson Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore, Alabama, followed by burial at Enon Baptist Church Cemetery in Goodway, AL.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society at www.nmcrs.org or Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org .

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.