REDMOND-CROSS, Donna Lorene (Hebb) - b. September 2, 1938 - d. November 1, 2014

[patyrn]

Donna Lorene (Hebb) Redmond-Cross was born on September 2, 1938 at the Wilson County Hospital in Neodesha, Kansas to Manley and Letha (Jontra) Hebb.  She was raised on the family farm southwest of Fall River, Kansas and graduated from Fall River High School in 1956.  She married Bill Redmond in October 1956, and they divorced in December 1960.  She married Sammie Cross on August 9, 1961.

Donna was instrumental in the operation of the milking operation until its dispersal in August of 1969.  She then turned her attention to the cafe they purchased, and later the Supper Club they built at the junction of Highways 99 and 96 near Severy, Kansas.  She was also well-known for her cooking skills, operating the cafe at the Eureka Sale Barn for several years, sometimes making up to 25 pies for each sale day.  During this time, she and her mother worked side-by-side making memories she cherished in the years to follow.  Donna obtained her lifelong dream of becoming a LPN in 1985.  While attending college, she was still active in the farm operation; raising hogs, beef cattle, and row crops.  Following a workplace accident, Donna's health began to diminish in 1991, and she had to relinquish her nursing job. 

After the amputation of her right leg in 1995, Donna didn't allow herself to be hampered by only having one leg.  She continued to help with the farming, driving the rake tractor during the haying season for her son one year.  She also painted her kitchen and hung a border while standing on the ladder, one-legged.  Over the course of time, her health continued to decline, and she survived several strokes and heart attacks throughout the coming years.

Family was the center of Donna's life, and she and Sammie raised seven children.  Her home was always busting with the comings and goings of her children, and later was the favorite place of her grandchildren.  Donna was active in the community when time allowed.  She belonged to an Extension Homemakers Unit, the Eastern Star Chapter in Climax, Kansas,and was instrumental in organizing the 4-H Chapter that her children participated in, "The Climax Swingers".  She loved to read, watch Western movies, and dance, and Don Williams was her favorite recording artist.

Family members who mourn her passing are her children, Deborah Garison of Dexter, Kansas, Gina Randolph of Denver, Colorado, Rose Brown of St. Paul, Kansas, Susan Baughn of Wichita, Kansas, Laura Cross of Hutchinson, Kansas, Joyce Cross of Coffeyville, Kansas, and Jim Cross of Eureka, Kansas; her grandchildren, Zeke Garison, Thomas Spain, Rodney Spain, Sami Gilliam, Jeremy Baughn, Travis, Baughn, Clayton Baughn, Alex Wharry-Cross, Kadyn Covey, and Jesse Cross; 10 great-grandchildren; and three brothers, Carvel "Kurly" Hebb and Donnie Hebb, both of Fall River, Kansas and Gary Hebb of Howard, Kansas.  Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Sammie Cross; an infant son, Gene Cross; her parents, Manley and Letha Hebb; two infant brothers, Roland Hebb and Melvin Hebb; an infant sister, Kathy Hebb; her sister, Phyllis Wood; and her brother, Max Hebb.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2014 at Koup Family Funeral Home, 121 N. Oak Street, Eureka, Kansas with Pastor Alan Hunter of the Howard Baptist Church officiating.  Visitation hours are set from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, 2014.  Interment will follow the services at South Lawn Cemetery in Severy, Kansas.  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the Eureka Nursing Center.  Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 595, Eureka, Kansas 67045 which is in charge of service arrangements.

(taken from the Koup Family Funeral Home website)