Frenchie (Brown) Cross

On August 19, 2022 Frenchie Audette Brown Cross concluded her 90-year long journey here on
earth. A memorial service will be held in the Fall as that was her favorite time of year.

On May 3, 1932, Frenchie took her place as the youngest of Mack Narrell Brown & Fannie Vesta
Spruiel Brown’s 4 children. Growing up in rural Prairie Hill, Texas, Frenchie spent much of her
time following her daddy around the farm or taking care of the family’s animals. It was here
that she developed her deep disdain for poultry of all sorts.
Frenchie was born with a vim and vigor that remained largely unmatched. In her 5 th year of
school she was told that she was not capable of climbing the school’s flagpole. Never one to
back down from a challenge she quickly hiked her dress up and shimmed up the pole. It wasn’t
until she was almost through gloating over her success that she realized she wasn’t able to get
herself down. This type of mindset and behavior would become the parameters by which she
would live her life.

She went to work for Yellow Freight in 1962, and at the time of her retirement in 1994 she was
Operations Manager, a position that had been largely held by men until that point. Following
her retirement she went to work at Waco Memorial Park where she met one of her closest and
dearest friends, Shanda Rountree. She retired from Waco Memorial in 2013.
After a lengthy courtship she married George Cross in 1974. She and George merged their
families  into one and enjoyed 39 years together before his death in 2013.
Frenchie would tell anyone who would listen that her greatest joy was being a grandmother,
and she was a really good one. Known to the world as “Nanny”, she was always available for
anything her grandchildren needed. She was famous for building “nests” on her huge couch
that were perfect for Saturday morning cartoon watching, cooking burritos that were bigger
than the plate she served them on and believing a trip to Toys R Us would fix almost everything.
Frenchie was blessed with a lengthy list of good friends and she loved and cherished her time
with each of them.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mack Narrell Brown & Fannie Vesta Spruiel Brown. Her sisters, Juanita Black and Imogene Hill. Her brother Jack Brown. Her husband, George Cross, her son, Mike Matthews, and her stepson Bryan Cross.

She is survived by her daughter, Debi Smith & son-in-law, David; Stepsons, Monty and Ross Cross, daughter-in-law, Susan Matthews. Grandchildren, Lani Rust & husband Mac, Meredith Cockrell & husband, Clint and Christopher Matthews and wife Melissa. Great-Grandchildren, Madison & Halle Rust and Cole Cockrell. Many nieces, nephews, friends, and her beloved companion, Whiskers. The family would like to thank Home Instead, Interim Hospice and Heartis Memory Care for their support and kindness to us during this difficult journey. We also want to thank Amy Chadwick, Al Brumfield and Gina Norris for always being such amazing friends.

Registry for Frenchie Cross