Carolyn Ann Cross

Carolyn Ann Cross of Ridgecrest, Calif., passed away June 10, 2023, while at Ridgecrest Regional Hospital.

The fourth of five children, Carolyn was born July 12, 1933 in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.  Her family moved to California's Central Valley during the Great Depression and moved frequently as her father sought work.  After her mother's illness, Carolyn was raised by aunts and uncles in Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri, returning to California as a teen.  In July 1951 she entered the Order of Saint Dominic in Tacoma, Washingon.

She took a break to reevaluate her calling and came to Saint Ann, Ridgecrest, Calif., to teach in 1956.  She even served as principal for a time. She reentered to Dominican Order in 1960, leaving again in 1966 after discerning that she was called to serve the world outside of the religious order. She returned to Saint Ann's in Ridgecrest in 1966 for a year and then moved to the Fresno area where she worked as a senior administrator in the Pond Union School District in McFarland for 25 years. She described her tenure at the Pond School as the happiest years of her life

Following her retirement, she moved back to Ridgecrest permanently.
She was predeceased by her parents, Mrs. Anna Griebel Cross and Mr. Ira Oliver Cross, as well as brothers Father Michael L. Cross, James Cross and Patrick Lee Cross and sister Virginia Cross Kauble.  She is survived by nephews Stephen Kauble and Michael R. Cross, along with nieces Kathleen Cross Dykes, Kim Maria Cross, Kelley Cross and Sandra Bergmann, along with a variety of great nieces and nephews, including Sandra Steingraber, from New York, who was visiting Carolyn at the time of her stroke and death.

A rosary service will be held at Hollands and Lyons Mortuary Wednesday, June 21, at 5 p.m. with a closed casket.  At 5:30 p.m., the casket will be open for viewing and final visitation.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 22, at 10 a.m. at St. Ann's Church in Ridgecrest, Calif., followed by a graveside service at Desert Memorial Park and then a reception at Saint Ann's Parish Hall.  Instead of flowers, Carolyn would appreciate donations to Saint Ann's School.

Special thanks go to Anita Meyers, who has been Carolyn's caregiver for a number of years and who gave her a reason to keep living.