Ona E. (Baird) Cross

Ona Evelayn Cross (Baird) was born on November 22, 1922 in Larned, Kansas to John Norris Baird and Clara (Spangler) Baird. Ona was raised on the farm 3 miles east of Larned.  She attended District #6 grade school, then Larned High School. Her senior year, she moved to Boulder, Colorado with her great aunt, and graduated from Boulder High in 1940. She then moved to Wichita and went to Wichita business college. After college, she worked for Boeing aircraft as the head secretary for the engineering department. She witnessed the first flight of the B29 bomber.  While in Wichita, Ona met a handsome engineer for Beech aircraft, Lloyd Cook. They were married on November 1, 1942. Lloyd served in the armed forces during the war. After the war they moved to Oklahoma City and she worked for Capital Records. Ona loved music and meeting such stars as Tennessee Ernie Ford, Hank Thompson & Jo Stafford. That marriage dissolved in 1951. Ona was back in Lewis briefly, then moved back to Colorado where she loved the mountains and reuniting with friends she had made when she was in Boulder. On April 21, 1955, Ona married Bill Cross in Clayton, New Mexico, they moved back to Lewis to live on the farm. Ona was active in many organizations she loved the farm and ranching business. She was an astute businesswoman, and was very successful in the cattle business. She was known for her keen wit and sense of humor. After Bill’s death in 1991, she continued to buy and sell cattle and participate in her farming operations. She was an avid member of the Lewis community, active in her EHU Sunnyside unit, a loyal member of DAR, active in the Kansas livestock Association and the Kansas Cowbells. She was a member of the Lewis United Methodist Church, a 35 year member of the Board of Directors of the Iroquois Center for Human Development, and her bowling league just to name a few.  Ona lived her last year‘s as a resident of the Edwards County Medical Center in Kinsley. She is survived by a nephew Joe R. Baird (Pam), a niece Jean Martin (John), great nieces and nephews; Loren Baird (Mari), Michael Baird (Amanda), Lindsay Martin, Erica Martin, Drew Martin.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill, and her brother Ralph H Baird. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 PM to 8 PM, Friday from 9 AM to 7 PM the family would like to greet friends from 5 PM to 7 PM at McKillip Memorial Chapel, Kinsley. Services will be at 10 AM on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at the Lewis Methodist Church in Lewis Kansas, with interment at the Larned Cemetery. Memorials maybe left to the Kinsley Hospital Auxiliary or the Iroquois Center for Human Development.

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