Ona Cross

Cross

Ona Jean Cross, age 91 years young, passed away Monday, July 17, 2023 in Holdenville, OK. She is already missed by her family and friends.

Ona came into this world on September 17, 1931 in Wewoka, OK to Chris Loman and Ethel (Halk) Loman. Ona was born into a farming family where she was the next youngest of seven kids all boys except her and her big sister Colleen. Growing up in rural Oklahoma during the Great Depression, Ona was -- unsurprisingly -- a tomboy. She rode horses, performed farm chores, roamed the nearby hills and pastures, and formed close-knit family ties. Perhaps that is how Ona earned the longstanding nickname: “Jimmie.” Her country girl upbringing likely gave Ona the vigor to shine as an all-county basketball star at Butner High School.

It was at a local basketball game where Ona met a handsome young man from nearby Bearden: Kenneth Lee Cross. They wed -- in Wewoka on May 19, 1951 -- and started a partnership that lasted nearly 70 years, when Kenneth passed on February 16, 2021.

Ona and Kenneth began their marriage in upstate New York, where he finished his service in the U.S. Air Force. But the couple soon returned to Oklahoma to start their family. Son Kenneth Charles was born October 19, 1952, followed by a second son Mark Alan on June 2, 1956. Ona chose to have both boys born in Wewoka so that they could be delivered by her family’s longtime, go-to physician “Dr. Grimes.” But the young family actually took up residence in the Midwest City / Del City area, where Kenneth found work that led to a career at Tinker Air Force Base.

As a wife, mother, and homemaker in the Baby Boom era of the 1950s, Ona was always busy with family matters -- from getting the crew to Sunday church services to keeping score at little league baseball games. But Ona also worked outside the home. Initially in retail, Ona eventually joined the staff in the municipal government offices of Del City and there made a career that lasted until her retirement. Rising to the position of City Secretary, Ona attended many a city council meeting and did her part to keep the machinery of local government running smoothly and efficiently. Simultaneously and by coincidence, Ona’s sister Colleen served as a Del City court administrator. Together, those two women effectively held the reins of city government in their hands.

Beyond the working world Ona was always up for a fun road trip. She orchestrated family drives as wide-ranging as California’s Disneyland, the Colorado Rockies, and the Gulf beach at Corpus Christi, TX. Upon retirement, Ona and Kenneth enjoyed organized bus tours and cruises to far-flung destinations, along with drives down I-35 to visit their granddaughters in Austin, TX. But without doubt, Ona’s favorite travel was always the weekend drive from Del City to visit her mom and her other loved-ones in Wewoka.

And so it is almost storybook that Ona came full circle to finish out her days back in the Wewoka hills of her youth. Awhile after Kenneth’s passing in 2021, Ona was welcomed into the home of her niece Sue Groves of Wewoka, where Ona received the care and affection of Sue, her husband Charlie, and the others in Sue’s family. Assisting them in this care was Jewel Green, who devoted many hours as a daytime companion to Ona. By the grace of these good folks Ona became a country gal once again and they have the utmost appreciation and gratitude from Ona’s kids and grandkids.

Besides her husband Kenneth, Ona is preceded in death by her parents; grandson Tyson Riding; siblings Earl Loman, Joe Ralph Loman, Leroy “Curley” Loman, Calvin Loman, and Haskell Loman.

Ona is survived by her two children, Kenneth Charles Cross and wife Ellen of Austin, TX; Mark Alan Cross and wife Deb of Hurricane, UT; by her grandchildren Sarah Johnson of Austin, TX, Elizabeth Cross of Bellingham, WA, and Julie Jones of Midland, TX; by eight great-grandchildren; by her sister Colleen Fowler of Del City, OK; and by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, July 24, 2023 at Stout-Phillips Funeral Chapel in Wewoka, OK. Interment to follow at Sunnylane Cemetery in Del City, OK.

Pallbearers: Charlie Groves, Johnathan Starnes, Jacob Fowler, Collin Fowler, Rich Fowler, Brian Fowler.

Arrangements under direction of Stout-Phillips Funeral Home in Wewoka, Oklahoma.