In Memory Of Donald M. Cross

     Donald M. Cross, 71 of Ava, passed away at 3:00 a.m. Sunday, December 28th 2008 at his home in Ava, IL.

     Donald was born April 17th 1937 in Ava Illinois the son of William M. Cross and Turzie (Crisler) Cross. He married Ann S. Creasy on Nov. 5th 1955, in St. Louis MO. They were married 53 years. He retired from Menard Correctional Center in June of 1994 after 26 years of service. He was a member of Ava Missionary Baptist Church.

     Donald leaves his wife Ann; three children, Mitzie McBride of Ava, Donnie Cross of Eldorado, Dee Cross of Carbondale; three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, one brother, Ronald Cross of Ava; many loving nieces and nephews.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, five sisters and one grandson.

Donald M. Cross  “He Fought A Good Fight”
2 Timothy 4:6-8 

     We have gathered here today to pay our final respect to Donald M. Cross, to remember his life and how it touched ours, to share in the hope in which he lived his life and which, for him, has now been realized.
    Ann, Mitzie, Donnie, Dee, Ronald, family and friends, I realize at this time there are no human words that can possibly fill the deep void in your hearts today. So in this time of grief and despair let us turn to the words of the Lord.

“For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down .. when we die and leave these bodies .. we will have a home in heaven,, and eternal body made for us by God Himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we will put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will not be spirits without bodies, but we will put on new heavenly bodies. Our dying bodies make us groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and have no bodies at all. We want to slip into our new bodies, so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by everlasting life. God Himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee He has given us His Holy Spirit.

            So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. That is why we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes we are fully confident and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at ho with the Lord. So our aim is to please Him always, whether we are here is this body or away from this body. For we all must stand before Christ and be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies.” (2 Cor. 5:1-10)

            Don loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting and was an avid sports fan. He was a carpenter well known for the quality of work he did, one prime example is the home they occupied until his death. He was somewhat like the Apostle Paul and I am reminded of the letter that Paul wrote to young Timothy.

“As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race….”      

     Paul knew that his life would soon be over as he writes these words to young Timothy, his spiritual son.He knew that perhaps within a matter of days he might be killed for his faith.  He says that the time has come for his departure. The word here refers to a loosening of the ropes when taking a tent down or to the release of the lines when a ship leaves the dock.  Paul saw himself as gathering his tent for the next stop and as a sailor launching out on a new journey. He knew that his life would not end with His physical death.
           Paul compares his life and service to athletics. We see some athletes who go through the motions or those who are in it for the money and don’t give their all. Paul says he gave his all and finished that course that had been set before Him.

        Don could look back over his life and say with Paul that he fought the good fight and finished the race. Like a marathon runner Don  kept going no matter how steep the hills, how strong the wind against him, how much his body cried out from  exhaustion, no matter how far away the finish line seemed to be. He fought for weeks until 3:00 a.m. last Sunday morning.
     And he kept the faith - he had  the belief that God had called him to be His child and servant and he put his trust in Him.
     While he may have wondered at times whether or not he was good enough, He may have strayed from the path, he may have not served as he knew he should have, he came to that point where he knew that through the grace of God displayed on that cross he would be received by God as holy and righteous.
     He believed that she would receive the crown of righteousness that Paul speaks of - the wreath awarded to the victor of the marathon race. 
    We need to consider one important thing that I believe Don would want you to know - the crown goes not just to Paul, not just to Don  but it goes to all, as Paul ends this passage, who have longed for Christ’s appearing.
     The Crown is not a reward for passing a certain standard of excellence or effort, it is a gift from God to all who believe that Jesus Christ gave His live on the cross and that whoever believes in Him, trusts in Him, will receive eternal life - for that is what the crown represents.
     We thank you God for our Husband, Father, Grandfather, and  friend and we thank you for Jesus Christ through whom we share in the glorious hope we have. 

     Let Us Pray.