Merna Elizabeth Mills Cross

Monday, April 13, 2009

Feb. 20, 1914 - April 10, 2009

ARAPAHOE -- Merna Elizabeth Mills Cross, 95, formerly of Arapahoe, died Friday (April 10, 2009) at Columbine Health Center in Fort Collins, Colo.

She was born Feb. 20, 1914, at Edison to Ray and Grace Steward Mills. She grew up on a farm at Edison and graduated from Oxford High School in 1931.

She taught school for six years, four years at Hardscrabble (northeast of Edison) and two years at St. Francis.

On April 25, 1937, she married Ray Addison Cross and together they farmed near Turkey Creek north of Edison from that time until 1974. Her husband, died in 1999.

She was a long-time member of the Arapahoe First United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women and the Every Ready Club.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; sister, Mildred Moberly; brother, Dale Mills; and one granddaughter, Beth Alayne McCoy.

Survivors include her son, Neal Cross and wife, Jean of Frederick, Colo.; daughters, Connie LaFont and Robert DeAngeles of Niceville, Fla., Janice Frost and husband, Douglas of Fort Collins, Colo., and Dianne Ebel and husband, Stan of Loveland, Colo.; sister, Lela Matthews of Holyoke, Colo.; sister-in-law, Hazel Cross of Arapahoe; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grand children; and one great-great grandchild.

Celebration of life will be Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Arapahoe with the Revs. Michael Flury and George Probasco officiating. Interment will be in the Arapahoe Cemetery. Condolences and personal reflections may be left at wenburgfuneralhome.com

Viewing and visitation will be Tuesday from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., at Wenburg Funeral Home in Arapahoe and prior to the services at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the church.

Wenburg Funeral Home of Arapahoe in charge of arrangements.