With two great clouds of witnesses

November 18, 1918 – December 15, 2011
Ruby Hazel Shannon Cross, 93, departed from this life December 15, 2011, with two great clouds of witnesses-some saying with tears, “There she goes!” and others saying with shouts of gladness, “Here she comes!” Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 18, at Beaty Funeral Home, Hwy 11, Winnsboro. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service in the chapel at Beaty Funeral Home, and also following the service, till the cows come home. Ken Hinkley of Winfield, Kansas will officiate.

Hazel was born in Lamar County, Texas, on November 18, 1918, to Jesse Finis and Ada Burton Coble Shannon. She married Jack Marion Cross in Hugo, Oklahoma on March 23, 1940, and launched a life of fun and variety as they moved to accommodate his ranch management career. When he started his foot trimming business and “hit the road”, it was Hazel who held the fort and managed the farm. Wherever they lived, it was always home for their extended family and all their children’s friends. She led many to the Lord, including her husband Jack, by her sweet example, righteous life, and simple teaching style. She mended hurts, whether physical, emotional or spiritual, and brightened the lives of all who knew her.

Her homes were always warm and welcoming and where everyone wanted to be. She raised other people’s children as well as her own and loved every minute of it. Hazel was a staunch conservative politically and was a great patriot to her beloved America.
She was a member of the Winnsboro church of Christ, where she will be remembered as a teacher of ladies’ Bible class and other classes from cradle roll to teen girls, and was a frequent guest speaker for the Winnsboro Mothers of Pre-Schoolers.

She volunteered as a reader for elementary students at Winnsboro schools. She was keynote speaker at several ladies’ retreats and ladies’ days. She sang alto for funeral choruses, and was casserole chef, greeter, comforter, friend, and the epitome of the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31.

Variously known as Hazel, Mother, Grandmother, Grandmommy, Little Momma, Ol’ Momma, Aunt Hazel, Miss Hazel, Shig, Big’un, Heavy, The Angel, and other endearments, she leaves the following to hold her memory and her legacy in their hearts: children and grandchildren, Gary Jack Cross and wife Jeanie of Bryan, Texas, Lisa Cross-Martinez of Lewisville, Texas, Lane Cross and wife Lisa of Bryan, Texas, Sherry Welch and husband David of Paris, Texas, Shane Welch and wife Tanya of Paris, Texas, Shannon Kingsbury and husband Dennis of Tyler, Texas, Marka Bennett and husband Norman of Memphis, Tenn., Brooke Ray and husband Josh of Springfield, Va., Emily Smith and husband Jarrod of Pleasant Plains, Ark., and Jerry and La’Doyce Davis of Mt. Pleasant; great-grandchildren include, Macy and Mackenzie Martinez of Springfield, Va., Jack Cross of Bryan, Texas, Jessica, Jennifer, and Jill Neal of Bryan, Texas, Jordan, Kelci, Justin and Kolton Welch of Paris, Texas, Dillon and Evan Kingsbury of Tyler, Texas, Sophie Ray of Springfield, Va., Sadie Belle Smith of Pleasant Plains, Ark., and Casey, Charla, Chanda, Christa, Chelsea and Chase Davis; and one great-great grandchild, Taryn Neal. Mourning her most of all is her precious canine companion Dixie.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, Jack Cross.

Memorials may be made to Camp Deer Run, 1227 CR 4590, Winnsboro TX 75494; Cornerstone Christian Academy, 2475 Earl Rudder Fwy, S, College Station TX 77845-6012; or to a charity of your choice .

Quick witted, jolly, chain smoking and willfully stubborn

Jerry Carter 
August 11, 1941 – December 4, 2011

This quick witted, jolly, chain smoking and willfully stubborn man passed in peace surrounded by family in his home. He courageously fought prostate cancer but cancer coupled with 55 years of joyously smoking finally was his undoing. He was adamant that his obituary be nothing more than a pithy paragraph, but it is lengthened a bit by his noncompliant, verbose wife despite the protest of his loyal daughters. 

Jerry Carter: a resident of Hilltop Lakes, was (and lives in our hearts as) a loving husband, father and son. He is survived by his wife, Betty, of forty-seven years; a son, Ron Carter; 2 daughters and their spouses, Kimberly Carter, MD and Paul Tindall; Jill and Alvin Spearman; 4 grand-kiddos, Colby Roddam, Ben Spearman, Aiden and Sloane Tindall; and mother, Louise Carter, from whom he inherited all of his stubbornness.

He was preceded in death by his father — Gaston Carter, who in a successful effort to survive such an unfortunate given name – developed an intelligent sense of humor which Jerry inherited.

Jerry grew up on a ranch and fled the hard life as soon as he could. He meant to be an engineer, but it wasn’t an option at Sam Houston State University, so he earned a BS in education and worked as an air traffic controller. Because of his need to tinker, he became a collector of an eclectic mix of skills; he was a pilot, ham radio operator, fisherman, technophile, and so loved his guns that he set up a shooting range INSIDE his house to ensure his children would never embarrass him in this area. He also was on an unceasing search for the perfect teacake, which was really an excuse to constantly eat cookies.

In the end he intended to create the ultimate insurance policies by raising and paying for the educations of an accountant and a physician — yet, he still succumbed to the truism of life: death and taxes. He’s currently taking a big drag on a Winston, eating the perfect teacake and relishing that in heaven no one is fussing at him about second hand smoke. 

Services celebrating his life will be held Wednesday, December 7 at 2:00 pm in Hilltop Lakes Chapel. Burial will be in Allphin Cemetery. In lieu of flowers make gifts to Hospice Brazos Valley or your favorite charity.

Madisonville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Sacrificial Decisions

April 26, 1953 – July 28, 2011

David Edward Kling died at his childhood home in the arms of his brother on Thursday, July 28, 2011. David was born on April 26, 1953, in Bryan, Texas to Billy James Kling and Florace Gatlin Kling. He was preceded in death by his father, mother and niece, Victoria Louise Kling. He is survived by a loving family of two brothers, Stewart Kling and wife Irene, and Chris Kling and wife Janet; his aunt, Mildred Gatlin Igo; his niece, Brittany Kling; and four nephews, Justin Kling, Gatlin Kling, Travis Kling and Lincoln Kling; and an extended family composed of everyone David ever met.

Funeral Services for David will be on Monday, August 1, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Bryan (TX). Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 31, 2011, 2:00p.m. until 4:00p.m. at Hillier Funeral Home.

David had two distinct careers; newspaper distribution and land surveying. After graduating from A&M Consolidated High School in 1971 he began working in newspaper distribution, methodically building a network across central Texas for the distribution of regional and national newspapers. David moved to Austin in the early 1980s, eventually settling in a cabin on a rural tract of land in Blanco County. He surveyed for national mapping and surveying companies for many years until he found his final calling as a land surveyor at Willis-Sherman Associates in Marble Falls, Texas.

David had a unique vision of the world, making him independent in thought and how he lived. What the rest of the world considered a vocation he considered an avocation and what the rest of the world considered an avocation he considered his vocation.

The world takes care of self first and always, looking to serve and help others only after satisfying personal desires. David served others first and always, meeting the needs of others before considering his own. David made sacrificial decisions, countless times each day, indeed at every opportunity, to place the needs, interests and desires of others ahead of his own.

He did not devote much effort to a formal education; however he spent his life in the solitary study of human nature. He coveted no material thing, caring little for how he looked, what he wore, where he lived or what he drove, the material things important to the rest of the world. His net worth by monetary standards was minimal. His worth to family, friends and first time acquaintances was immeasurable.

He maintained his personal needs and desires at a level such that he had sufficient margin in his life to always be available to help someone else. David worked to meet his needs according to the choices he made. While his work ethic was second to none David had that special ability to balance work and his primary commitment of serving others so that both employer and his commitment to those he loved were satisfied. With a boundless capacity to serve others David would help anyone, at any time, to do anything.

David was free of all prejudice, hate and fear; believing in the inherent goodness of humanity and the equality of man. In David’s view everyone was good, honest, and trustworthy. He was kind, generous, considerate and thoughtful, gentle, humble and loving.

David will be greatly missed and forever remembered by all who knew him.

David’s nephews Justin, Gatlin, Travis and Lincoln are honorary pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, family has asked that memorial donations in David’s name be made to S.O.S. Ministries, P.O. Box 2866, Bryan, Texas 77805.