Patricia Marie Cross

Patricia Marie Cross (Pat) passed away quietly in her La Quinta home on August 23, 2010 with her husband of 58 years, Donald G. Cross at her side. She was born August 31, 1932 to Eleanor and Walter Clasen in St. Louis, Mo. She is survived by her devoted husband and three grown sons, Donn - Nancy, Steven - Pearl, Guy - Laura. She was a loving grandmother to Kara Cross Leonard, Ryan Leonard, Dustin Cross, Gil Gonzales, Stephanie Mendoza, Gary Mendoza, Breanna Mendoza, Mia Cross, Bryan Cross and Cody Cross. She loved her role as a great grandmother (AKA "GG") to Alissa Leonard, Hannah Gonzales and Kaleb Cross McHan. She loved kids and they loved her. She loved having her "Grand dog", Trigger, for sleep overs at Grandma's house from one to ten days. Trigger loved it too. While still in high school in St. Louis Pat began a working career as Santa's helper in a major St. Louis department store. She would go on to become a model for women's clothes in the same store. Following her marriage to Don Cross on April 26, 1952 she worked for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation in St. Louis. In 1955 Pat and Don left St. Louis for California where they heard the streets were "paved with gold, there were oranges on every tree" and lots of opportunity for electricians, Don's working trade. The family settled first in Covina, moved to Pomona and put down deeper roots in Claremont, Calif. in 1963. During the Claremont years Pat became very active in Republican politics becoming President of Claremont Republican women. A rapidly expanding building market with plenty of electrical work brought Pat and Don to the Coachella Valley in 1979 and they have made this their permanent home since then. Pat continued her interest in politics and joined the Palm Springs Republican Assembly. She also served as President of the Rancho Mirage Republican Women and was a founding member and officer of the East Valley Republican Women and modeled in fund raising fashion shows for the group. Her Republican involvements led to an office position with Republican congressman Alfred "Al" A. McCandless who served as a California Representative to the U. S. Congress from 1983 to 1995. Pat's dedication and attention to detail spurred McCandless to appoint her to the position of district Chief of Staff. In that role she managed the Riverside and Palm Desert Congressional Offices. She often filled in for the congressman at meetings and events, speaking for his office as the occasion required. She held that position for approximately twelve years until the congressman stepped down from office. While heading the district staff for McCandless she was treated to a VIP tour of the White House. She has personally met Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford, has toured Air Force One, the Presidential aircraft and attended Republican National Conventions, twice as a voting delegate. She was invited to join the staff of retired President Gerald Ford but graciously declined to follow other interests. Following her stint of duty with McCandless she acted as a public relations point for Browning - Ferris Industries, the second largest waste management firm in the country. She was a Director in the La Quinta Historical Society and active in the La Quinta Museum, a Director of the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce, appointed to the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities by then Governor Pete Wilson. She loved NASCAR racing and even sponsored a car in the La Quinta Soap Box Derby. During a five year battle with cancer Pat never lost her positive take on life. She loved her husband Don, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, her social and political friends. She loved the Lord and professed a strong Christian faith in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. She loved to bake cookies for neighbors, friends and especially for her fellow cancer patients at the Eisenhower Infusion Center. In the face of brutal sessions of chemotherapy and radiation she always had a smile and words of encouragement for others walking the same path. She was widely known in the area as a positive go getter who could get any job she was given done well. Pat was at peace with crossing over. "Vaya con Dios. Till we meet again." A celebration of her life is pending.