Bobby Tim Cross
Bobby Tim Cross was born in Roaring Springs, Texas on Nov. 21, 1939 to James Clifton and Agnes Iona Cross. He was raised in Matador, Texas, graduating from Matador High School 1959 and from Texas Tech University in 1968 with a Bachelor in Range Science. During his time at Tech, he enjoyed bull riding. Bobby joined the US Army in December 1961 and was in the U.S. Army 82nd Air Borne. He finished his service with the 11th Air Assault Division in Fort Benning, Georgia. Wherever he was, he was always a cowboy at heart in his boots and hat.
Bobby worked for Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Spur & Vernon, Texas for over 30 years. His favorite memory of his time at the Extension Center was a research site on the W. T. Waggoner Ranch in Vernon called Kite Place with over 35,000 acres where he could once again enjoy cowboy life and ride the open range.
While attending the 1966 Old Settlers Reunion in Roaring Springs, he met his love and best friend, Kay. They were married in Lubbock, Texas in 1966 and have been together for 47 years. They lived in the Texas towns of Lubbock, Spur and Vernon with a short time in Purcell and Norman, Okla. The couple loved square dancing and their life was spent doing things together such as cooking for Christmas, camping, choir, decorating churches, cooking for church events, taking youth on ski trips and to Nationals at Branson, Mo. They really enjoyed their yard with bird feeders he made, fish pond, flower beds, work shop and a deck to sit together to while the hours away. They dreamed of one day retiring in the Colorado Mountains.
Bobby was a true cowboy at heart with a love of God, family and open spaces. He spent free time studying the Bible, Hebrew and Jewish ways and loved teaching to share groups and Sunday School. He was always busy working, fixing things in the house or building objects in his workshop. Bobby and Kay loved to travel together, taking lots of pictures enjoying all the sites. Bobby loved to camp and cook for friends and family. he family favorite was his special “Sour Dough Biscuits.” His and Kay’s favorite camping memories were made in Tres Ritos, N.M. and areas outside of Colorado Springs. Bobby and Kay worked with kids early in their married life and while in Vernon and Purcell they drove the church bus route. Bobby always enjoyed watching his children and grandkids sporting events and his favorite teams were the Cowboys, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Texas A&M Aggies, Vernon Lions, Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers Baseball.
Bobby is survived by wife Kay of Lubbock, Texas; four children, Lawana and Sue Dellasandro of Norman, Okla.; Tony & Linda Ratliff of Lubbock, Texas; David and Dena Maldonado of Vernon, Texas, and Matt & Shelia Booth of Colorado Springs, Colo. 14 grandkids, Michael & Jennifer Durant; James Durant of California, Shawnee & Brian Romine; Stacey Lagunas and Joey Matthews; Joseph Dellasandro; Jamie Ratliff; Tasha Ratliff, all of Texas; William Fannon, Jennifer Fannon, Joe Bob Fannon, Tyler Fannon, Tiffany Fannon all of Oklahoma, and Tanner Booth, Barrett Booth and Carter Booth of Colorado; 14 great-grandkids Michael, Matthew, Alyssa, Justin, Paige and Angelina Durant of California; Naytia and Hayley Sipe, Rylan Matthews, Christopher Rogers, Allie Blackmon of Texas and Haley, Ashley, and Kylee Fannon of Oklahoma; one great-great-grand daughter, Ellie Jean Rogers of Texas; his sister, Sue Winn and brother-in-law Lotus Winn and sister-in-law, Bettynell McCandless and brother-in-law Glenn McCandless of Lubbock Texas; nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts, uncles and his adoring cat and companion, “Junior.”
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, JC and Cricket Cross and his granddaughters, Conswello, Stephanie and Hartley.
A memorial will be on June 23, 2014 at 2 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, please give to a charity of your choice.
