James Croll

James Myron Croll, 75, passed away Friday evening, January 13, 2012, at his home in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Friends may call at PenwellGabel Loren Fawcett Chapel 9:00 am, 5:00 pm, on Thursday, January 19, Funeral services will be Friday, January 20 at Christ Church in Neodesha at 11:00 a.m., the family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m., until service time at the church. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army or Cornerstone Hospice and may be left with the funeral home. Born in Neodesha, Kansas, as the younger brother of Keith Croll, Grandview, Missouri, Myron lived with his parents A.R. Jake Croll and Lorna Denney Croll. Myron, to his school friends, graduated from Neodesha High School before attending Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas, to play basketball. Jim, to the military and his post school friends, traveled the world with the Air Force for 24 years and retired in 1979. Upon his retirement, he went back to school and started a new career in computers, working for Medicalodges, Inc., in Coffeyville, Kansas. He retired from Medicalodges, Inc., after 20 years and moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Along the way, he made many friends, one of which, Verna Willliams, of Pocatello, Idaho, he married in Neodesha in 1959. They had a son, the late Russell Croll, and adopted another son, Richard Croll. After Verna passed away in early 2007, Jim found his high school sweetheart, Gayle Canaday, at a school reunion and married her later that year. Gayle, having changed her name to Kanta Kanara before her union with Jim, lost a 2 year battle with cancer late in 2011. Jims final days were attended by his son Richard who lives in New Strawn, Kansas, with his wife Susan and their two children, Whitney and Austin. Jim enjoyed bowling, golfing, watching sporting events, and was particularly fond of fantasy football. He also liked gardening and working in the kitchen, but often preferred to eat out. Playing cards was a passion, but his grandchildren meant the world to him. Camping and fishing with friends was where you would find him whenever he had the chance. He never met a stranger, but made many friends along his lifes journey. He was a truly great man and will be sorely missed.