Cris Eugene Combs

Cris Eugene Combs was born to Johnnie L. Combs and Judy M. Huck Combs at Tulsa Osteopathic Hospital on May 5th, 1968 and was the fourth of their four sons; Raymond Victor, David Lee, and Steven Michael.  As a boy, Cris developed many of his talents and among them was the craft of movie-making. He made several 8mm movies casting his many cousins in roles and editing the film rolls by hand to show lightning streaks and laser blasts. This talent resembled that of a certain Spielberg who used those techniques in his early films; Cris was our Spielberg.  Cris was also musically talented, focusing on the piano and played the tom-toms in the Collinsville High School Marching Band, where graduated with honors in1986.

Cris was always charming and kind and also brave.  He “came out of the closet” in his Senior year of high school which was a very brave thing and was not met with kindness by some people, even family members.  However, his immediate and “true” family members always embraced him as close and beloved son, brother, uncle and cousin.  Cris’ search for acceptance led him to San Francisco where he lived and was well-known in of the local community from 1988 to 2008.  He was Sainted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an activist group in SF who’s motto is to expiate stigmatic guilt and promulgate universal joy, as “Saint Love Pig’. He was very proud of that recognition. During his years in SF, he ran the office for the proprietor, Beth Hoffman, at Alternative Mortgage Sources on Market Street.  Cris was in long-time relationship with Brett Klinker who visited Collinsville with Cris. He made many diverse friendships during his 20 years in San Francisco and was welcomed home to Collinsville when he left SF in 2008. While back in Collinsville, he resided at the former home of his Grandparents, Lucy O. & John T. Combs, owned by our cousin Natalie and Richard Tacker who took great care of Cris while he was living there. He lived in this family home until his death.

Cris was a fastidious housekeeper, an excellent cook, a talented artist, a fierce friend, and a loving and devoted son. He had a wickedly quick wit and a comedic sense of humor. His homemade greeting cards were always a laugh. While often sarcastic and gouging in his humor, he treated people with kindness and respect. He loved his family above all except for one: he adored Olivia Newton John. He was still grieving her passing when he passed and now they are together singing Xanadu. He selflessly looked after his Grandmother Ruby Harrold’s affairs before and after her passing. He created his own funerary arrangements and made sure that everything was taken care of before he departed this world on July 11th, 2023. He was 55 years young.

Cris is preceded in death by all of his Grandparents and his brother, Steven M. Combs.  He survived by his parents, Judy and John Combs of Collinsville, his brother, David Combs and wife Paula Dodson Combs of Collinsville, his brother Raymond Combs and husband Mark Hugret of Reno, NV. He is also survived by his nephews Joshua Ray Combs of Collinsville, Jordan Wade Combs of Tulsa and Adam Zane Combs of Owasso. He is also survived by many loving Aunts and Uncles and Cousins who adored Cris, except for one: Peggy J. Cantrell of Catoosa, who caused Cris irreparable harm as a young boy with her evil words and hateful actions. She deserves to be outed as the hateful person she was then and still is today. Cris would approve of this statement being included in his obituary. In fact, leaving it out would be a disservice to him because he spent the better part of his life recovering from the trauma she inflicted upon him.

Cris, may you rest in power and love and dance your little butt off in light and joy!  You will be forever in our hearts and we miss more than words can convey.  Our Crisie Pooh, Saint Love Pig!