GENEALOGY: CATCHING THE PAST, TRUMAN AND VELMA CROSS

Catching The Past

A Tribute To Mom and Dad

It is never easy to say goodbye to the ones you love.  Mom passed away on October 11, 2013 and Dad just a short while later on January 23, 2015.  Each passing gave lots of time to contemplate what a blessed life all of their children were given.  Not an EASY life, but blessed.  We were taught lessons that made us into the adults we are today.  I wanted to share my photos and scans for everyone who may have missed the services for either one, and also the highlights of the goodbye that we said for them. 

Here is the engaged couple in 1946ish. 

Truman Alvin Cross and Velma Mae Hascall

Mom and Dad were married on February 22, 1947.  The wedding was held at the Cross Ranch in Coombs Canyon just Southeast of Pendleton. 

For the next nearly 68 years they were a devoted couple.  We worked very hard to make sure they were able to stay together, even after having to live in a care home for the last little bit they were together. 

Mom and Dad's 35th anniversary.  Roland and I asked if they would stop by, we had something we needed to talk to them about.  They were very surprised that I had made Dad's favorite dinner, beef soup with home made noodles.  The cake was a bit of a forest fire, but tasted okay.  Mom always had that adoring look on her face whenever someone managed to actually get them to agree to a picture. 

This was Mom and Dad's 50th anniversary.  As hard as we tried to get them to be "retired", it just wasn't gonna happen... and that look is still on Mom's face.  All of us kids went in together and bought them a big satellite dish.  Jody donated his expertise and ordered everything, and with some help from Travis we gave them something more than 3 channels out of the air. 

Dad had an accident just after Thanksgiving of 2011.  He broke his back in three places and was lucky to survive with his back broken in 3 places.  Dr.s at Kadlec put him back together, but he was no longer able to care for mom as he had been doing for several years.  She was so distraught over his accident that she had a stroke just days after and was also admitted to Kadlec.  After that time, she was only able to speak a few words at a time. 

This ended their 60 year life at the ranch and a new chapter began for them.  We were so very fortunate to find "Christy's Loving Care" an adult care home where they were able to live in a family setting and get wonderful home cooked meals.  The care that was given to them was of such a high quality, we were truly blessed.  Thanks to Christy, Randy, Josh, Jenna and all the folks who helped make their last bit of life a quality one.  We love you and consider you extended family!!  

Mom also had congestive heart failure and was only able to survive about 23 months before passing away. 

 
Velma Mae Cross, 85 of Pilot Rock, OR died on Friday Oct. 11, 2013 in Hermiston. She was born in Pendleton, Oregon on June 11, 1928 to parents, Percy & Sadie Cable Hascall. Velma’s great grandfather Charles Daniel Hascall settled south of Pilot Rock in 1886. Velma was raised on the family ranch on Stanley Creek and attended the one room Byrd School house 9 miles south of Pilot Rock
(The School is now a museum in Pendleton) At age 18 she married Truman Cross Jr. At the Cross Ranch in Coombs Canyon south of Pendleton. They lived together at their ranch south east of Pilot Rock on Rocky Ridge.
Truman & Velma had 6 children, Jody of Hermiston, David & Charles both of Pendleton, Karen Fulbright of Pilot Rock, Troy of Walla Walla, Travis of Hermiston. 4 grandchildren, Alicia Rogers, Pendleton, Jennifer Thompson, & Tyson Cross of Pendleton, Chester Fulbright. 6 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Percy Eugene Hascall & Sadie Estella Cable; sister, Effie Irene and brothers, Henry Eugene, Wayne Everett, John Fenton and Gilbert Burton.
Velma made he life around her family as wife, mother, and homemaker. She loved all kinds of needlework and sewing. She was an excellent Cook and baker and She took great pride in her home. Velma loved horseback riding and was a terrific artist. An animal lover, she raised babies from calves to kittens. Velma loved music and played the fiddle, Piano and Accordian.
She was the heart of our family.
A graveside Service will be held at the Pilot Rock Cemetery in Pilot Rock, Oregon

At Mom's service we shared the above information as well as our sentiments.  My brother Chuck read the scripture from Proverbs about the wife being a "rare ruby"  and indeed mom was.  I shared the scripture from Revelation about there being no more tears, all the former things had passed away.  We all said a prayer to send her on her way.  We will miss you until we see you again. 

Dad lost his wife, his soul mate, his other half.  He declined for another 15 months and then passed away. 

Truman Alvin “Punch” Cross, 90 of Pilot Rock died on Friday January 23, 2015 in Hermiston. He was born on April 17, 1924 in Sherman County Oregon to Truman Adelbert Cross and Winifred Muriel Thrasher Cross. He was raised south of Rufus, and attended local schools there until the family moved to Eastern Oregon in 1937. He attended Pendleton Jr. High and High School, graduating in 1942. Truman also attended University of Oregon for 2 years, but was interrupted by WWII. He served in the Army, and was in the European Theatre, England, Belgium, France and was in the Battle of the Bulge.
After the was he came home to help on the family ranch southwest of Pendleton in Coombs Canyon. He married Velma Mae Hascall on February 22, 1947 and began raising a family. They purchased their ranch on Rocky Ridge Southeast of Pilot Rock. Where he raised wheat and cattle. He was an active member of the Soil Conservation Service and often hosted meetings at the ranch.
Truman was a small plane pilot and loved flying whenever he could. During the late 1960's until 1980's. He also leased the Midstate Ranch in Fossil, Oregon, where he ran a large cattle and horse operation in addition to the Pilot Rock Ranch. Truman was an avid horseman, and maintained a large string of working horses for use on both ranches. During his “retirement” years he raised Barzona cattle and spent time developing and growing grass seed.
He is survived by sisters, Loeta Mikel of Pilot Rock, Carol Cross of Hermiston; step-sister, Patti Michael of Pilot Rock, OR;
6 children, Jody Cross of Lexington, KY; David Cross & Charles Cross both of Pendleton; Karen Fulbright of Pilot Rock; Troy Cross of Walla Walla, WA; and Travis Cross of Hermiston. 4 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Graveside Service with Military Honors will be on Tuesday January 27, 2015 at 1:00 PM at the Pilot Rock Cemetery in Pilot Rock, Oregon.

Dad's service was very short and to the point.  He was buried with military honors.  The Oregon Guard provided taps and the folding of the flag at the conclusion of his eulogy.  I will share here for those unable to make the service:

Things to know about Dad.  

He loved his family and country. 

Family always came first.   

Our family has deep deep roots dating from the time of the Mayflower in one instance…   William and Susannah were married in the harbor and started their new life in the new world after William had signed the Mayflower Compact.     

In another instance our Scott/Irish ancestor was drafted by the English to fight the revolution as the ROYAL IRISH ARTILLERY.  He didn't much like the whole situation and come over to our side.  After the war, he married the daughter of American Revolutionary soldier Moses Rich.  James and Bathsheba had a strong start and their family flourishes to this day.  (These were only the ancestors, on his mother's side.  The Cross side was long and fabled as well, but didn't have time for a book here...)   

The Cross family has generations of military service.  With available photos from WW1, 2, Vietnam, and Afghanistan.   

Family is everything.   

Dad was the fastest man I have EVER seen.  If we were having some kind ruckus, whether it was the boys fighting, or us getting into some kind of disaster, he could be right in the middle of it before we ever saw him coming.   

Dad loved to fly.   He had his pilot's license at a young age.  He was always in a great mood if he was going to go up in the air.   

Dad loved horses.  He would spend hours working with a horse and bringing it along.  His biggest accomplishment was  a big black horse he called "Booger"  The poor thing had been badly abused.  He was skittish and he would spook at the littlest things.  The comment was made that the poor horse thought the booger man was gonna get him… so he became booger.

Dad loved going to track meets.  When the older boys were at a meet, he often shot the starter pistol and helped out.  He was so proud of his sons.   

We were blessed with a carefree childhood, lots of room to run, rip and tear.  We had animals to care for, and we had a home full of music.

Dad was a musician at heart.  He could play a harmonica like nobody's business.  His favorite tune on the harmonica was the Strawberry Roan.  Many happy evenings were spend with dad learning how to play a guitar from a book.  He then passed that on 

You can tell a lot when you know what kind of music someone likes.  If a song really struck a chord with Dad, he had a notebook, and he would write down the lyrics to the song and figure out what the guitar chords might be.  One that I ran across when going through his papers was a song by John Denver.  Back Home Again  This song sums up MANY of dad's nearly 91 years.  l

There's a storm across the valley, clouds are rollin' in

The afternoon is heavy on your shoulders.

There's a truck out on the four lane, a mile or more away

The whinin' of his wheels just makes it colder.

He's an hour away from ridin' on your prayers up in the sky

And ten days on the road are barely gone.

There's a fire softly burning; supper's on the stove

But it's the light in your eyes that makes him warm.

[Chorus]

Hey, it's good to be back home again

Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend

Yes, 'n, hey it's good to be back home again

There's all the news to tell him: how's you spend your time?

And what's the latest thing the neighbors say

And your mother called last friday; "Sunshine" made her cry

And you felt the baby move just yesterday. 

And oh, the time that I can lay this tired old body down

And feel your fingers feather soft up-on me

The kisses that I live for, the love that lights my way

The happiness that livin' with you brings me.

It's the sweetest thing I know of, just spending time with you

It's the little things that make a house a home.

Like a fire softly burning and supper on the stove.

And the light in your eyes that makes me warm.

In the last part of his life Dad relived the war.  He came out of his surgery believing that he had been captured by the Germans.  He continued to have full blown PTSD for a couple of years.  When I visited him at Assisted living he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said to me:  "You just don't know what it's like to watch your friends die right beside you."  I agreed with him that I sure didn't know.  It was probably one of the hardest things I ever did to watch this man who had been the rock of our family, in tears for the men who didn't make it home.

Dad and his battery men were commended by their Captain for having the fastest time in setting up their artillery… 9, 12, and 17 minutes until they engaged the enemy.  The company is believed to have shot the first volley across the Danube River.  While it was only a small piece of what happened to him while serving.  Dad, like many veterans only wanted to come home, put the war behind him, marry his sweetheart and have a family.  And he did.  With amazing success.  He never talked about the war to us as children, only in his much later years did he share stories with us.   

To our dad.  We love you and we will miss you.  Your Scots/Irish ancestors may have used this blessing, and it seems to fit.

May the road rise up to meet you,

May the wind be ever at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face

and the rain fall softly on your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

-- Irish Blessing

Dad didn't pray.  I never heard him say one as long as I was alive,

We will have a moment for each of us to send a small prayer that God will indeed hold him in his hands until the resurrection. 

Silent  Moment of Prayer

Private 1st Class Cross

240th Field Artillery Battalion

Battery "B"

1st and 3rd Armies  19th Corps.  

We will send you off as many of your buddies have gone before you. 

(HONOR GUARD, TAPS and FOLDING OF THE FLAG)

Please visit back as I do biographies on our family.  Key words Catching The Past will help you find them, as I also post Cast Iron recipes and photos here.