Mary M Cross

If you can picture the kindest and most selfless person, with boundless energy and an exceptional sense of humor, then you are picturing Mary Cross. Her family and friends celebrate her amazing life and her positive impact on everyone who knew her.

Mary Margaret (Wakehouse) Cross passed away on July 14, 2024 at her home in West Des Moines, IA. Mary was born March 12, 1945 at home near Pisgah, Iowa to Elsie (McCracken) Wakehouse and Lewis Wakehouse, the only girl after 3 boys. They were a farm family - she helped her mom with cooking and chores while the boys helped their dad with farming. She developed a very strong work ethic at a young age that carried forward for the rest of her life. She could work circles around the rest of us, even later in life.

She attended country school for 2 years. When the country school closed, she attended Pisgah Consolidated School, then West Harrison High School in Mondamin, graduating in 1963. Mary attended Iowa Methodist School of Nursing (1963-1966) and became a registered nurse. Some of her dearest lifelong friends were nursing school classmates who called her “such a wonderful nurse.”

Mary married her high school sweetheart, Bill Cross on August 14, 1966. She and Bill lived in Iowa City while Bill attended medical school. Mary worked at the VA hospital in kidney dialysis where she contracted Hepatitis C, which was not diagnosed until 26 years later. By then significant liver damage had occurred.

Bill and Mary spent time in California and Utah during Bill’s medical training and his time in the Air Force. They lived in Dubuque early in their careers and then moved to Des Moines when Bill joined a group medical practice. During these years, Mary continued working in dialysis and then in dermatology. Mary & Bill had 3 children, Susan born in 1968, Mark in 1974 and Meggie in 1978. Out of a billion moms, they would pick her every time.

Mary was baptized into Christ in 1969. She and Bill attend Lutheran Church of Hope, where Mary enjoyed ladies activities, volunteering in the One Body ministry, and taking classes - especially her Tuesday morning Bible study “Table 11”. She was a faith-filled woman and an inspiration of grace and strength during her health battles.

Mary enjoyed ski trips to Colorado and following the Iowa Hawkeyes. Her hobbies included scrapbooking, book club, tennis, pickleball, PEO, bowling, walking with friends, and gardening. Her greatest joy was her family, especially her 4 grandkids, Caleb, Jessica, Reece & Luke. She also adored her granddaughter-in-law, Priscila.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Lew & Elsie Wakehouse; her parents-in-law, Gordon & Louise Cross; 3 brothers – Donald, Leo and Jerry; nephews Kevin & Craig Wakehouse; and brother-in-law Marvin White.

She is survived by her husband Bill of 58 years, daughters Susan (Brad) Buchanan of West Des Moines IA and Meggie (Bryce) Fuhrman of Clear Lake IA; and son Mark (Jennie) Cross of Dexter IA; sisters-in-law Nancy White, Louise Wakehouse & Kathy Wakehouse; nieces Dawn Alcumbrac and Jodi Going; nephews Jerrold White, John Wakehouse, and Matthew Wakehouse; and several cousins.

She loved her caregiving team from Wesley Life Hospice and is forever grateful for their kindness and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: National Fragile X Foundation, 10 Prince Pl. Suite 203, Newbury MA 01950; https://fragilex.org/donate/ or Wesley Life Hospice: https://www.wesleylife.org/foundation/donate-now

A visitation will be held Tuesday, July 16, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Ernst Funeral Home in Waukee.  Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Lutheran Church of Hope, West Des Moines.  Mary's funeral service will be live-streamed and can be viewed via: https://wdm.lutheranchurchofhope.org/specialevents/. Committal Graveside Services will be held Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Solider Valley Cemetery in rural Pisgah, Iowa.

Ernst Funeral & Cremation Services of Waukee has been entrusted with Mary's final arrangements.