Lucille Cross

Lucille Cross, 94, longtime Arthur County resident, died Friday, November 28, 2014, at Golden Ours Convalescent Home in Grant, Nebr. Anna Lucille Monhart was born March 15, 1920 at the homestead southeast of Arthur, Nebraska in "Bohemian Valley" to Joseph F. and Winnie F. (Stafford) Monhart. She attended grade school in District 1, graduating from Arthur County High School in 1938. Lucille graduated from the School of Business in Grand Island where she met and married Billy Hill. The couple later divorced. She married Jean Cross in 1947. They lived in Arthur for several years before moving to California, then Oregon for a year before settling back in Arthur County for the duration of her life. The final nine months were spent in the nursing home in Grant, Nebraska where she cultivated rich friendships with residents and staff who declared she was the "sunshine" of the place and made coming to work a pleasure. Lucille was proud of her country upbringing and shared many stories of milking the family's fifteen cows twice a day, walking over the sandhills a mile to their country school and enjoying life to the fullest with her siblings even through the Depression years. Lucille accompanied her father's fiddling on the piano for many dances and community occasions. She left her artistic mark in the Sandhill region through her paintings and later in her personalized signs that graced businesses and ranches far beyond Arthur County. Lucille never met a tree she didn't love. She made it her mission to create an oasis of colorful shade for others to enjoy. An avid seamstress, Lucille sewed exquisite gowns, men's suits, coats and costumes, many times creating the patterns herself by simply looking at a sketch. Although her hearing diminished measurably the last part of her life, she lovingly welcomed visitors with a cup of coffee, a meal and bed if needed. She was a member of the Arthur Baptist Church. Preceding her in death was her husband, her parents, her siblings Betty, Billy, and Bonnie. Survivors include her son Joe Cross of Arthur, and three daughters: Bonnie Jean Nutt of College Station, Tex.; Judy Ann (Jeffrey) Little of Sioux Falls, So. Dak.; and Mary Jane (Richard) Oliver of Maryville, Mo. One sister Frances Loveless of Tracy, Cal., also nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Friday, December 5, from 1 to 7 p.m. in the Arthur Baptist Church.The Funeral Service will be Saturday, December 6, at 11 a.m. in the Arthur Baptist Church with Rev. Ben Keene officiating. Interment is in the Arthur Cemetery. A memorial has been established in her name to the Arthur Baptist Church.

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