Elizabeth Ann Cross

May 27, 1933 ~ June 21, 2020

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Elizabeth Ann Cross (nee Pierce) age 87 of Vero Beach, Florida died on June 21, 2020 at Indian River Estates in Vero Beach. She was born May 27, 1933 in Augusta, Maine to Elizabeth H. and Frederick W. Pierce, Jr. She was married on September 11, 1954, to Ray H. Cross who predeceased her in 1986.

Known mostly as Liz, she had an incredibly active life, with recent trips to Maine, France, South Africa, and Washington, D.C. to attend significant events with her children and grandchildren. She lived in Maine, Ohio, New Hampshire, Connecticut, California, New Jersey and Florida. In the early 1990s, she discovered Vero Beach and has been a resident ever since, living at both Timber Ridge where she was active in fitness sports and tennis, and most recently at Indian River Estates where she was quite the pickleball and shuffleboard player.

Liz had an incredible commitment to education, graduating from Cony High School in Augusta, Maine (1951), then The University of Maine (B.S. 1955), and The University of Bridgeport (M.S. 1972). At her beloved University of Maine, she was a sister in Chi Omega Sorority, and was in the All Maine Women, Phi Kappa Phi, and Omicron Nu honor societies. She served and positively impacted numerous students and families as a teacher, social worker, guidance counselor, and volunteer. She passed her commitment to education on to her children and grandchildren. Blessed with the spiritual gifts of service and teaching, she was extremely active at The Community Church of Vero Beach where she served as greeter and usher, and worked tirelessly at their annual rummage sale.

She was a life long and highly skilled bridge player achieving the extremely rare Gold Life Master status. She was a staple and highly desired partner at the Vero Beach Bridge Center, and was sought out to teach and arrange Bridge games on prestigious cruise ships.

Her loving brother, Frederick W. Pierce III, and wife Diane, of Las Vegas, NV, and sons Mark Cross of Richmond, VA, Jeff Cross of St. Louis, MO, and David Cross of Charleston, SC survive her. She has six incredible grandchildren, Lea (and husband Paul) of Chicago, IL, Julie of Bentonville, AR, Kayla of Washington DC, Nathan of New York, NY, Amanda of Columbia, SC, and Tucker of Charleston, SC. She has been also blessed with three wonderful and devoted daughters in laws, Melanie, Therese, and Jill. She is also survived by niece Susan Pierce Stoddart of Dallas, TX and nephew Frederick W. Pierce IV (and wife Christine) of Rancho Santa Fe, CA.

She will be missed by many, including her long-time companion and dance partner, Gus Choate of Winthrop, ME.

She will be interred alongside her husband Ray H. Cross (1934-1986) in Forest Grove Cemetery.

Gifts in lieu of flowers and in memory of Liz may be sent to the University of Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469-5792, or online at umainefoundation.org/memorial toward the Ray H. Cross ’55, ’57G & Elizabeth Pierce Cross ’55 Electronics Lab in the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center.

Condolences may be shared online at www.millenniumcremationservice.com.

Let the family know you care by sharing this tribute.

Condolence

Mark Cross

June 22, 2020, 7:12 pm

We were lucky to have her on this earth for 87 years!
Rest In Peace.

Melanie Cross

June 22, 2020, 7:35 pm

We were blessed to have spent wonderful family times and awesome travel adventures with Liz. Thankful for her love for her sons, daughter-in-laws and grandchildren.

Julie Kennedy

June 22, 2020, 8:34 pm

Rest in well deserved peace, Liz. I know our loving God shall surely raise you up high on that promised day, and those still here who will miss you so shall see tour beautiful smile again!

Julie McLean Kennedy

June 22, 2020, 8:46 pm

Rest in well deserved peace, Liz. I know our loving God shall surely raise you up high on that promised day, and those still here who will miss you so shall see tour beautiful smile again!

Fred Pierce

June 23, 2020, 4:57 am

Liz was a fantastic and caring sister, my only sibling. We lived miles apart during our adult life, but still were able to stay connected and enjoy several
visits at her summer home in Maine, close to where we grew up in Augusta. Liz will be greatly missed by her family.

Mary Rianhard

June 26, 2020, 12:22 pm

Mary and Lock Rianhard

Liz was such a good friend in Vero Beach. We loved to do things together and spent time each day together. When I first met Liz, we hit it off enough to gather friends together and started a Red Hat group and had such fun with our friends and husbands. Liz mentored me in bridge and we won a tournament together! She was way ahead of me but we played together on and off and did well. Sometimes, in the evening, we would get together with two other gals and have dinner and bridge.

When her cancer began, I often drove her to the doctors. It was a very tough time for her and I helped when I could. Then she moved to the Indian River Estates and she was better off, though it took her a while to adjust. Liz had so many friends at Timber Ridge and was such fun to be with. We shall all miss her.

One summer we went to Maine to visit cousins and got together with Liz. In February Liz called to say she had been moved to the health care unit. We spoke on the phone a few times and then nothing. The virus came before I could get in to see her and I was so worried, but never heard from her again. I have been grieving for quite a few months and miss her greatly. She always spoke of her husband, her children and grandchildren. I felt as if I knew them. God bless to you all. Be at peace, Liz.

Barbara Willey

June 26, 2020, 7:40 pm

My condolences to the Cross family and also Liz’s long time companion Gus Choate. I knew Liz and Ray Cross in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey and daughter Meg was with David in Mt. Lakes schools. In Mt. Lakes Liz was a whiz at tennis and also an expert in bridge–as she was here in Vero Beach. Our Mountain Lakes group here in Vero (at one time there were probably 40 of us) had so many good times together and our Friday nights at Cannons were memorable with laughter and happy times. Liz helped me many times in resolving problems that I had with my duplicate bridge game here in Grove Isle. For years Liz headed up the Timber Ridge Tennis Group annual party and she was always a willing tennis partner for my husband Lou Choquette–they won several tournaments together in the VB Senior Good Life Games; always competitive but kind! Our memories of her love and friendship are treasures to carry with us always. Dear friend, may you rest in peace.

Jacki Muller

July 8, 2020, 8:07 pm

I met Liz soon after I moved to Timber Ridge in late 1995. She was so much a part of Timber Ridge, involved in so many of the activities, and always had time for newcomers. I enjoyed playing tennis with her, biking, walking and participating in the “bikers”” outings. She was a lovely lady – so well-liked by so many. I know she was proud and devoted to her family, and they to her. Hers was truly a life well-lived!

Stormi Wentworth

July 11, 2020, 6:18 pm

Dan and I were so Blessed to know Liz and be able to spend time together in Castine. She was such a sweet lady..
So sorry for the Cross Families.
❤❤
Love,
Dan and Stormi Wentworth..

Merton Robinson

July 22, 2020, 2:29 pm

Liz was a classmate of mine at the University of Maine. She was always in an upbeat mood with a smile and a laugh that was something to behold. I am so pleased to have know her at school along with her husband Ray and later on Gus. I always looked forward to seeing her at a reunion. She was a special person. My sincere condolences to all.

Muriel Gade

July 22, 2020, 5:17 pm

So many memories of my times with Liz… we were roomies at U of Maine for three years before she married Ray in our senior year. We have kept in touch these many years and until a few years ago ago would visit when I returned to Maine each summer. We gathered with a few of our /’55 friends. Liz visited me here in California and a favorite time was a visit she made to my lake property in Gray one summer shortly after Ray passed. Sadly, I lost touch with Liz after Christmas this past year. My Christmas card was returned to me and her phone number that I had no longer worked. So… I have been missing her since then. Liz always spoke so highly of her sons; DILs and grandchildren. She was a wonderful friend for sooo many years. My sincere condolences to her loving family.