Carrol “Butch” Cross

Carrol “Butch” Lloyd Cross, 75, of Lumberton, died Saturday, February 24, 2024. He was born on December 21, 1948, in McLeansboro, Illinois, to Edna Marie Bevan Cross and Pleasant Walter Cross.

The family eventually moved to Pickrell Corner, Kansas where he attended Haverhill Elementary, then Leon High School. He was a star athlete in football, basketball, baseball, and track. His junior year he fell in love with one of the cheerleaders, Susan McGavran, and they dated throughout their high school years. He graduated in 1967 and received a football scholarship to Butler County Community College for the fall semester of 1967 and later to Missouri Southern in Joplin, Missouri. Susan graduated in 1968 and on June 8, 1968, they were married. Thus began their love story, lasting over 55 years. They became parents of three wonderful sons.

Butch was hired on with Mobile Refinery in Augusta, Kansas and in 1983 the company closed the plant down and transferred him to Beaumont, Texas. He was a passionate golfer and loved traveling and stopping along the way to play a course. He taught the whole family the sport and was able to play with his sons as well as his grandsons in his later years.

He was a member of First Baptist Church of Loeb in Lumberton, Texas, where he sang in the choir. Of course, Susan had to prod him a little bit to get him there, but when his mom, Edna, would come to visit she would just beam to see him in the choir loft. He loved his family and friends, he would help anyone if they needed it and was just a kindhearted person with a beautiful smile.

In 1991, he was diagnosed with a genetic disease called Wilson Disease where he had too much copper in his body. This caused cirrhosis of the liver and all of the problems that that cirrhosis brings. His health was an up and down roller coaster from then on with this last year being the toughest. He passed with his loved ones around him who got to witness his last precious breath on earth.

Survivors include his wife, Susan Cross; sons; Carl Cross of Kountze; Chad Cross and his wife, Kelly, of Orangefield; and Cameron Cross of Wimberly; grandchildren, Coby Cross and his wife, Brooke, of Orangefield; Brock Cross and his wife, Josie, of Orange; Kourtney Cross of Orangefield; Nairn Cross of Austin; and Bevan Cross of San Marcus; sisters, Vicki Harker and her husband, Jim, of Leon, Kansas; and Barbara Wilson of Milton, Kansas.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Edna and Pleasant “Bud” Cross; siblings, Carl Cross, Victor Cross, and Connie Cross McClure; daughter-in-law, Katherine Cross; and brother-in-law, Terry Wilson.

A gathering of Mr. Cross’ family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 1, 2024, at Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee. An additional gathering of family and friends will be from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., Sunday, March 3, 2024, at Carlson Funeral Home, 200 South Star Street, El Dorado, Kansas. A graveside service will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, March 4, 2024, at Leon Cemetery, Leon, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wilson Disease Association, 224 W 35^th Street, Suite 500 #676, New York, New York 10001 or to the Leon Community Historical Society and Museum Incorporation, P.O. Box 308, Leon, Kansas 67074.