Neil Vernon Cross

1936 - 2025

Neil Vernon Cross

August 16, 1936 - June 3, 2025

Neil "Grandpa" Cross finally got to see his "honey" again on June 3, 2025. We will miss him, but we are very happy he is reunited with Grandma and Jesus.

Neil was born to Vernon and Ruby Cross in Gosper County, Nebraska, in 1936, the middle child of seven. His family later moved to New Plymouth, Idaho. After graduating from Fruitland high school, Neil continued his education at the University of Idaho, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1958. He then joined the Navy and was stationed in Taiwan. After his time in the Navy, Neil landed a job at Valley High School as a teacher of agriculture. It is here that he met the love of his life, Deanie, a widowed English teacher with two young girls, Dee Dee and Kim. Neil and Deanie were married in 1968 in Alexandria, Virginia.

Having completed his master's degree at Penn State, he became a counselor at College of Southern Idaho (CSI). After just two years at CSI, Neil was promoted to Associate Dean of Vocational Education and eventually earned his Ed.D. at University of Idaho. It was during his time at CSI that he and Deanie joined the Lions Club, a membership that followed him throughout his life, gave him a great deal of happiness, and resulted in many friendships. Neil and Deanie were adventurous world travelers, exploring Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Neil retired from CSI in 1994 and after retirement, his schedule got even busier. He and Deanie often had a busier calendar than the kids. They loved to drop by restaurants where Michelle and Kinsey worked to grab a Dr. Pepper and for a quick hello or to stop by the insurance company to say hi to Callie and drop off change for Jagger to count. Weekly, on Fridays, they joined their best friends Brad and Rita to "share" all you can eat ribs at Muggers (something only they were allowed to do).

Neil was a sharp-dressed, handsome man with a passion for gardening and woodworking, and he loved to share anything he created with his family and the community. For years Valley would bus kids to his garden so they could lay claim to their favorite pumpkin and carve their name in it with a nail. He had a tedious process for cutting the most perfect home-grown cabbage for cabbage salad and grew the best vegetables for Dillie Dip for family gatherings. He was famous for his beautiful produce shared through his neighborhood fruit stand and for his trunkful of garden treasures at all family reunions.

Neil was a man of patience, creativity, and detail. He spent countless days serving and singing in the Valley Presbyterian Church and loved attending sporting events of the Valley Vikings, CSI, and neighboring schools. Neil was the definition of a true gentleman. He would always drop Deanie at the front door of any destination, so she didn't have to walk through the parking lot or risk messing up her hair in the Idaho wind. He opened the door for her everywhere they went. In addition to his kindness to Deanie, Neil was an outstanding grandfather. He dedicated nearly every Sunday to his grandkids. They were days full of laughter, card games, wood-cutting, silly songs in the car, picking the potato bugs off the plants in his garden, and trips over the "bumps" and through the "tunnel" in Eden. We will forever cherish our memories of riding in his blue convertible (a staple in the local parade in Hazelton). He had a love for anything the kids were interested in including riding wood boards in the irrigation ditch or pulling snow sleds full of kids behind his truck. One of his best accomplishments (creating many years of jokes and laughter) was inspiring his grandson, John, to start a Dead Bird Collection.

In the last years of his life, Neil struggled with his memory. However, at Christmas 2023 he gave us one more wonderful memory when he was able to sing several of the songs he taught us without missing a word, despite not really having the ability to communicate in a regular manner. We were all very "Yucky" to know him and he was most certainly "Yucky in Love" as his honey would always say. Neil was a kind man and was well-liked and well-known in the communities he served.

He was preceded in death by his wife Deanie Cross, his parents Vernon and Ruby Cross, brother Douglas Cross, sister Ramona Kammerer, brother Dale Cross, two nieces, and a nephew.

He is survived by his two daughters Dee Dee Gott (Mike) and Kim McDonald, sister Janet Shannon, brothers Dean and Dwight Cross, and many grandchildren, great- grandchildren, nieces, and nephews who loved him dearly.

Our deepest gratitude for the care given to him by Canyon Memory Care, Heritage Hospice, Kathy Kent, and especially to his "adopted daughter" Julie Bruce.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in his name to the charity or organization of your choice.

Services will be held at11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 11, at Reynolds Funeral Chapel Twin Falls, Idaho.