Mary Ruth Smith

Funeral Services for Mary Ruth Hughes Cross Smith, age 85 of Bonham, TX will be held on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Wise Funeral Home Chapel in Bonham, TX . Officiating will be Bro. Chuck Jestis, Rev. Dan Gurley, Bro. Steve Knox, and a Eulogy delivered by her nephew,  Paul Dubois. Interment will follow at 3:00 PM at Oakwood Cemetery in Jacksboro, TX . Mary passed away on July 4, 2018. She was born February 19, 1933 in Cundiff Community, Texas to Lanis Hughes & Ila Izella Page Hughes.

Mary was born in a tent on the Whittaker farm in the Cundiff Community (Jack County), TX.  She graduated from Jacksboro High School in 1950.  She married Billy Richard Cross, March 24, 1951. After 21 years of marriage, he preceded her in death on November 13, 1972.  She was a homemaker while her children were growing up, being active in school, church, sports and scouts. In 1971 her family moved to Dallas. She married William Earnest "Jim" Smith on June 24, 1973. He preceded her in death on June 29, 2003, after 30 years of marriage.   Mary retired in 1989 from Wyeth Laboratories, where she served as a receptionist. After moving to Fannin County, she was a Tax Preparer for 8 years, before retiring once again. She joined the Methodist Church in Jacksboro, TX at an early age, and at the time of her death, she was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church in Windom, TX.  Mary loved to read mystery and romance novels, especially those from Debbie Macomber, Linda Lael Miller and Nora Roberts.  She enjoyed cross-stitch and sewing for numerous pageants and plays. In her younger years, she loved to play pool, even winning many tournaments.

Mary was preceded in death by parents, Lanis Hughes & Ila Izella Page Hughes; sons, Gary Allen Cross on December 13, 1970 ,  Richard Glenn Cross on April 27 , 1984,  Charles Tracy Cross on August 10, 1995 and Don Lee Cross on November 24, 2017; sister, Don Leta Hughes Dubois on December 30, 1987; daughter-in-law, Brenda Dickey on December 4, 2015.

Surviving are her two daughters, Denise Lynn Flanery and husband Tom of Arrington, TN and Shelley Hill and husband Luther (Shorty) of Bonham, TX;  son,  Larry Cross of Bonham, TX; twenty one grandchildren,  Allen, Gina, Donna, Brian, Tara, Jeffrey, Stephen, Douglas, Karen, David, Jr., Deon, Dustin, Sabrina, Gary, Holly, Kenny, Stephanie, Jennifer, Jody, Tammy and Julie; numerous great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren;  step-daughter, Kathy Jo Thompson of Greenville, TX; daughter-in-law, Jan Cross of Chesterfield, VA ; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews

The family will receive friends at 6-8 PM on Friday, July 6, 2018 at Wise Funeral Home.

Donations may be made to Windom United Methodist Church,  207 2nd St, Windom, TX 75492 or Concerned Citizens Of Jack County, 400 E Pine St, Jacksboro, TX 76458.