Merlin Rex Cross, 89, died Feb 20, 2007, at the home of his daughter Sherryl (Ron) Hellenga in Traverse City where he had resided since Aug 2004. Merlin was born Feb 15, 1918, in Kalkaska County to James Aid and Ethel Irene (Wright) Cross. He graduated from the Kalkaska Public School in 1937. On Dec 24, 1939, he married Lucinda Phoebe Bateman in Kalkaska. They celebrated nearly 65 years of marriage.
Merlin was first and foremost a farmer and for many years he and his brother Fay operated the Cross Family Farm in Kalkaska County. Although he left farming to pursue road construction, he was always a farmer at heart. He was a wonderful caretaker of the earth and all its creatures, great and small, and passed these beliefs on to his children and grandchildren. He remained a tiller of the soil.
In 1970, Merlin and Lucinda moved to Steuben in the Upper Peninsula and operated, with their son Terry and his wife Sally,m a general store and a canoe livery on the Indian River. During this time he also worked for his son Terry's construction business. Later Merlin and Lucinda settled into a home they built on acreage fronting Ogontz Bay near Nahma.
Merlin was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lucinda, and his son Terry. He was also preceded in death by his brother Fay and sisters Ila, Thelma, and Doris.
He is survived by daughter, Susan (John) Yonker, daughter in law, Sally Cross, daughter, Sherryl (Ron) Hellenga, and daughter Jackie (John Sturgis) Miller; grandchildren, Todd (Jeni) Yonker, Spencer (Jill) Yonker, Wade (Lynda) Cross, Travis (Jeanne LeMire) Cross, James (Theressa) Hollis, Emberly Cross, Meagen (Erik) Luce, and Joshua Miler; great grandchildren, Jensen and Tate Yonker, Wyatt and Hannah Cross, Alex, Connor, Jacob, and Jarrod Hollis, Madison and Erin Cross Kaplan, Lauren and Alexis Luce; and special friends Logan and Josie. He is also survived by his sister, Winifred (Willard) Fox; sister in law, Gladys Cross; brother in law, Douglas Bateman; and many nieces and nephews.
The family thanks Dr. Ethan VanTil, Paula and Ellen of Thirlby Clinic for their compassionate care; neighbors Char and Mike Wallace and Dr. Jan Messerschmidt, as well as many others, including Hospice caregivers. Thanks for the kindness shown by friends he made during his daily lunch visits to Meijer over the years, and to special friend Thad Hellenga.
Arrangements were handled by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Cremation has taken place and a family celebration of the lives of Merlin, Lucinda, and Terry will take place this summer near Steuben.
