NORMA L. CROSS
Norma Lee (Waggoner) Cross, 83, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family, fresh sunflowers and her cat on June 3, 2025, from complications following a heart attack at her home in Chandler, AZ. Born on May 12, 1942, in Hastings, NE, Norma was the cherished daughter of Charles and Ellen (Mason) Waggoner.
Norma spent the first few years of her life with her mother staying with family in Holmesville, NE and Lincoln, NE while her father was overseas serving in World War II.
They moved to Arapahoe, NE after her father returned from the war where Norma attended Arapahoe Public School, graduating in 1960. This is where Norma gained lifelong friendships with her classmates that she held dear to her heart until the day she passed.
On June 16, 1962, Norma married the love of her life, Frank Cross.
They were farmers north of Edison, NE in the Turkey Creek area raising five children until they moved to Mesa, AZ in 1986.
From Nebraska, Norma brought her green thumb to Arizona and learned about growing plants and cacti while working at different plant nurseries and other jobs until she retired in 2008. In retirement, she enjoyed many adventures and cross-country road trips with her family and her cousin, Gaye Mason. She also became an official snowbird making her home in Arapahoe during the summertime and then back to her favorite Arizona sunshine during the wintertime.
Throughout her entire life, Norma’s true passion was her children, grandchildren and her recent great-grandchildren. For any of them, her love was boundless.
She proudly completed her bucket list attending each of their high school graduations. Norma had so many great qualities that we all adored including her beautiful smile but the greatest of them was her unconditional LOVE.
She will live on in our hearts and memories and will be forever missed by those who were blessed to know her.
Norma was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Charles and Ellen Waggoner; her husband Frank (1995); her son Mitch (2023); and her parents-in-law Hazel and Leo Cross.
She is survived by her daughter Marcia (Philip Gengel) of Queensbury, NY and their two daughters, Stephanie and Bailey; daughter Megan (Andrew Rewolinski) of Auburn, WA and their four dogs; son Jeff (Ronda) of Cambridge, NE and their four daughters, Taylor (Colt), Sheldon (Craig), Rylee and Jordyn; son Jeremy (Shanda) of Gilbert, AZ and their four children, Jacob, Katie (Brandon), Samuel (Paizley) and Emma. Greatgrandchildren Declan, Briar and Landon and many nieces and nephews.
To honor her wishes for when this day came, Norma will be reunited with her husband Frank as their ashes will be joined and released with the love of her family present in a private ceremony. There will be an informal Open House to celebrate Norma’s life with her family at the Hunt Nebraska Lodge in Arapahoe on Saturday, June 21 from 1 pm-4 pm.
