Linda Cross, 73, of Champaign, Illinois, died at 10:18 a.m. Tuesday (Jan. 29, 2019) at Lee Memorial Hospital, Fort Myers, Florida.
On a cold day in November of 1945, Linda K. Sawyer was born and the world got way more interesting, especially for the citizens of Champaign.
She grew up with three siblings, Larry, Allen and Kathy. She met her future husband, James Cross, while ice skating. They married in 1965 and in short order they added two wonderful children to their family, Melissa and Chris. Some would argue that Chris was slightly more wonderful but let's not quibble.
She was an amazing mother but she always looked for another challenge. She was on the Champaign County Board for multiple terms. She ran for and was elected Township Supervisor of Champaign where she excelled in the office for many years. Even after retirement she believed in civic duty and agreed to serve as an interim member of the City Council.
She and her husband, Jim, were the owners of Huber's West End Store and she remained an active and enthusiastic proprietor after his death.
She loved to cook, in a kitchen filled with every gadget imaginable. She loved to travel, she loved her many many friends. She adored her grandchildren and doted on all of them. She was kind and generous to friends and strangers alike. She was always positive, always upbeat. A conversation with her would leave you feeling better and most likely laughing wildly. She was hilarious. A short list of adjectives about Linda would include: caring, gregarious, passionate, loyal, energetic, giving ... okay, so not that short a list but we'd be here all day if I wrote down all of the ones that apply.
Here’s one more: tenacious. She never gave up. Despite years of health problems, she never lost her sense of humor, her love of life. When she lost her husband of fifty years, she was devastated but true to her nature she kept moving forward. Getting on with it. Making the most of every day. She was a force of nature, an inspiration and the world is far less interesting without her in it. We love you Mom. Rest well, we'll keep it going for you.
Linda was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Cross, and her brother, Larry Sawyer.
She is survived by her brother, Allen Sawyer, of Wolf Creek, Montana; her sister, Kathy Burnham of Elizabeth, Arkansas, as well as her daughter, Melissa and Scott Hildreth of Highland, Michigan and her son, Chris and Julie Cross of Ballwin, Missouri, along with five grandchildren, Olivia and Ryan Hildreth, Izzy, Sophie, and Max Cross. She is also survived by a huge circle of friends that knew and loved her as much as we do.
Heath and Vaughn Funeral Home
On a cold day in November of 1945, Linda K. Sawyer was born and the world got way more interesting, especially for the citizens of Champaign.
She grew up with three siblings, Larry, Allen and Kathy. She met her future husband, James Cross, while ice skating. They married in 1965 and in short order they added two wonderful children to their family, Melissa and Chris. Some would argue that Chris was slightly more wonderful but let's not quibble.
She was an amazing mother but she always looked for another challenge. She was on the Champaign County Board for multiple terms. She ran for and was elected Township Supervisor of Champaign where she excelled in the office for many years. Even after retirement she believed in civic duty and agreed to serve as an interim member of the City Council.
She and her husband, Jim, were the owners of Huber's West End Store and she remained an active and enthusiastic proprietor after his death.
She loved to cook, in a kitchen filled with every gadget imaginable. She loved to travel, she loved her many many friends. She adored her grandchildren and doted on all of them. She was kind and generous to friends and strangers alike. She was always positive, always upbeat. A conversation with her would leave you feeling better and most likely laughing wildly. She was hilarious. A short list of adjectives about Linda would include: caring, gregarious, passionate, loyal, energetic, giving ... okay, so not that short a list but we'd be here all day if I wrote down all of the ones that apply.
Here’s one more: tenacious. She never gave up. Despite years of health problems, she never lost her sense of humor, her love of life. When she lost her husband of fifty years, she was devastated but true to her nature she kept moving forward. Getting on with it. Making the most of every day. She was a force of nature, an inspiration and the world is far less interesting without her in it. We love you Mom. Rest well, we'll keep it going for you.
Linda was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Cross, and her brother, Larry Sawyer.
She is survived by her brother, Allen Sawyer, of Wolf Creek, Montana; her sister, Kathy Burnham of Elizabeth, Arkansas, as well as her daughter, Melissa and Scott Hildreth of Highland, Michigan and her son, Chris and Julie Cross of Ballwin, Missouri, along with five grandchildren, Olivia and Ryan Hildreth, Izzy, Sophie, and Max Cross. She is also survived by a huge circle of friends that knew and loved her as much as we do.
Heath and Vaughn Funeral Home
Linda Cross, 73, of Champaign, Illinois, died at 10:18 a.m. Tuesday (Jan. 29, 2019) at Lee Memorial Hospital, Fort Myers, Florida.
On a cold day in November of 1945, Linda K. Sawyer was born and the world got way more interesting, especially for the citizens of Champaign.
She grew up with three siblings, Larry, Allen and Kathy. She met her future husband, James Cross, while ice skating. They married in 1965 and in short order they added two wonderful children to their family, Melissa and Chris. Some would argue that Chris was slightly more wonderful but let's not quibble.
She was an amazing mother but she always looked for another challenge. She was on the Champaign County Board for multiple terms. She ran for and was elected Township Supervisor of Champaign where she excelled in the office for many years. Even after retirement she believed in civic duty and agreed to serve as an interim member of the City Council.
She and her husband, Jim, were the owners of Huber's West End Store and she remained an active and enthusiastic proprietor after his death.
She loved to cook, in a kitchen filled with every gadget imaginable. She loved to travel, she loved her many many friends. She adored her grandchildren and doted on all of them. She was kind and generous to friends and strangers alike. She was always positive, always upbeat. A conversation with her would leave you feeling better and most likely laughing wildly. She was hilarious. A short list of adjectives about Linda would include: caring, gregarious, passionate, loyal, energetic, giving ... okay, so not that short a list but we'd be here all day if I wrote down all of the ones that apply.
Here’s one more: tenacious. She never gave up. Despite years of health problems, she never lost her sense of humor, her love of life. When she lost her husband of fifty years, she was devastated but true to her nature she kept moving forward. Getting on with it. Making the most of every day. She was a force of nature, an inspiration and the world is far less interesting without her in it. We love you Mom. Rest well, we'll keep it going for you.
Linda was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Cross, and her brother, Larry Sawyer.
She is survived by her brother, Allen Sawyer, of Wolf Creek, Montana; her sister, Kathy Burnham of Elizabeth, Arkansas, as well as her daughter, Melissa and Scott Hildreth of Highland, Michigan and her son, Chris and Julie Cross of Ballwin, Missouri, along with five grandchildren, Olivia and Ryan Hildreth, Izzy, Sophie, and Max Cross. She is also survived by a huge circle of friends that knew and loved her as much as we do.
Heath and Vaughn Funeral Home
On a cold day in November of 1945, Linda K. Sawyer was born and the world got way more interesting, especially for the citizens of Champaign.
She grew up with three siblings, Larry, Allen and Kathy. She met her future husband, James Cross, while ice skating. They married in 1965 and in short order they added two wonderful children to their family, Melissa and Chris. Some would argue that Chris was slightly more wonderful but let's not quibble.
She was an amazing mother but she always looked for another challenge. She was on the Champaign County Board for multiple terms. She ran for and was elected Township Supervisor of Champaign where she excelled in the office for many years. Even after retirement she believed in civic duty and agreed to serve as an interim member of the City Council.
She and her husband, Jim, were the owners of Huber's West End Store and she remained an active and enthusiastic proprietor after his death.
She loved to cook, in a kitchen filled with every gadget imaginable. She loved to travel, she loved her many many friends. She adored her grandchildren and doted on all of them. She was kind and generous to friends and strangers alike. She was always positive, always upbeat. A conversation with her would leave you feeling better and most likely laughing wildly. She was hilarious. A short list of adjectives about Linda would include: caring, gregarious, passionate, loyal, energetic, giving ... okay, so not that short a list but we'd be here all day if I wrote down all of the ones that apply.
Here’s one more: tenacious. She never gave up. Despite years of health problems, she never lost her sense of humor, her love of life. When she lost her husband of fifty years, she was devastated but true to her nature she kept moving forward. Getting on with it. Making the most of every day. She was a force of nature, an inspiration and the world is far less interesting without her in it. We love you Mom. Rest well, we'll keep it going for you.
Linda was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Cross, and her brother, Larry Sawyer.
She is survived by her brother, Allen Sawyer, of Wolf Creek, Montana; her sister, Kathy Burnham of Elizabeth, Arkansas, as well as her daughter, Melissa and Scott Hildreth of Highland, Michigan and her son, Chris and Julie Cross of Ballwin, Missouri, along with five grandchildren, Olivia and Ryan Hildreth, Izzy, Sophie, and Max Cross. She is also survived by a huge circle of friends that knew and loved her as much as we do.
Heath and Vaughn Funeral Home
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
