Gerald Orla Cross

Gerald Orla Cross Gerald Orla Cross, 83, passed away peacefully surrounded by his children at the Eaton Community Hospice on Thursday, October 21, 2010. Jerry was born June 27, 1927 on the family farm in Montcalm County, Douglas Township, the fifth child of Orla and Alta (Comden) Cross. He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, Alger and Thelma Demorest; brothers, Howard (Ila), Theo (Barbara); sister, Loreen (Henry) Novenske; an infant sister and a granddaughter, Heather Cooper. He cared for his beloved wife, Alice, through her struggle with Alzheimer's disease and she preceded him in death in 1996. Jerry served as a Medical Corpsman in the U.S. Army from 1946-1947. He worked at Aluminum Extrusions for 38 years and helped neighbors on their farms for many years after his retirement. Jerry and Alice lived in their Otto Road home in Charlotte from 1954 until each of their respective passings. He raised many pigs, cattle, ponies, horses and mules and dearly loved his many dogs and cats. He loved to fish and hunt. Gerald is survived by his one remaining sibling Earl (Betty); his children, Sam (Kathy) Cross; Julie (Chuck) Cooper; Patty (Kevin) Braithwaite; grandchildren, Dave, Jon, Jim, Lisa and Bob Cross, Melissa Cooper and Tamara Little, Jessica, Daniel and Katie (Ryan Starkweather) Boucher; 4 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. A visitation will be held at Pray Funeral Home from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 25, 2010 with interment immediately following at Maple Hill Cemetery. Jerry has requested that there be no funeral service and that he be pulled to his final resting place by horses, a service which Steve Newman has kindly agreed to provide. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Community Hospice House. Online condolences may be made at www.prayfuneral.com. Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, MI.