Alice Nellene Cross (Plainview)

Alice “Nellene” Cross, 86, left her earthly home to be with her Lord and Savior Saturday, May 5. Nellene was born July 21, 1931 in Murphysboro, Illinois to Fred B and Clara Schumaker. After attending college at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale majoring in music, she married her sweetheart William “Bill” Cross on June 10, 1951 who was serving in the United States Navy. As a naval wife from 1951 to 1975, she was very involved in the many officer wife’s events including serving as President of the Officer’s Wives Club at Imperial Beach Naval Air Station. She also served as president of the Mar Vista High School Band Boosters Club. They raised their family in Tennessee, Virginia and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba before moving to Imperial Beach, California in 1964. There they served as the Music Ministers at the First Baptist Church, Imperial Beach until moving to Plainview, Texas in August, 1977. She became the First Baptist Church, Plainview Music Minister’s Secretary and served for 25 years. Nellene was instrumental in starting the Single’s Ministry there after she lost the love of her life Bill in 1982. After retiring she continued to volunteer with RSVP, sang with the Millennial Singers and volunteered at local nursing homes providing chapel services. You knew Nellene by her contagious smile and her signature laugh. She was the Proverbs 31 mom to 7 children, 22 grandkids and 19 great grandchildren. Surviving children include a daughter-in-law Kim Cross of Upland, California, sons Bobby and wife Mary of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Bill and wife Sheri of Plainview, Curt and wife Delores of Graham, Texas, Steve and wife Michelle of Denton, Texas, daughters Janet Trumbull and husband Tim of Caldwell, Idaho and Carol Terrell and husband Harley of Plainview. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill in 1982 and oldest son Terry in 2016. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 8 at Kornerstone Funeral Directors in Plainview from 6 -8 p.m. and funeral services will be Wednesday, May 9 at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Plainview with burial to follow in Parklawn Memorial Gardens under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Plainview or a charity of your choice.