EMBDEN, ME – Mary Irene Greenleaf Cross, A dedicated wife, homemaker, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Mary Cross passed from this life on November 23, 2015, at just 9 days short of 88 to be with her beloved husband Cecil C. Cross. Born the last child of four to Edna (Tilley) and Bert Greenleaf on December 2, 1927, in North Anson, Maine, Mary was educated in a one-room school house in North Anson, ME and later graduated from Anson Academy. She passed peacefully under the watchful and attentive care of her daughter and family, as well as MaineGeneral Hospice, and kind and caring caregiver and special friend Sonya Mullen. Mary’s life was full and eventful. She married Cecil and the Navy on August 24, 1950, in Charleston, South Carolina, and led the military life for 13 years until Cecil’s ill health resulted in an honorary medical disability retirement from the United States Navy. Mary often said she and Cecil were in the Navy together. Together they moved from Illinois, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Florida, and Maryland. She and Cecil enjoyed making friends in all locations before moving to Maine. Commitment to community and an active life resulted in Mary’s involvement in Extension Services of Maine, Embden Historical Society, as well as the Retreads motorcycle organization and the Good Sam’s Camping Club. Together, Mary and Cecil motorcycled across country twice and camped with special friends in Maine. Mary especially enjoyed her hand crafts of knitting, crocheting, Swedish weaving, and sewing--whether she was sewing doll clothes, draperies, or her daughter’s wedding dress. She was an enthusiastic gardener. Her biscuits, molasses cookies, and baked beans were enjoyed by many at eat-the-food gatherings sponsored as fundraising activities or just plain for fun. Predeceasing Mary was her husband of 62 years, Cecil C. Cross who passed away on April 8, 2012, parents Edna and Bert, brother Raymond Greenleaf, and sister Ruth Jackson. She is survived by daughter Roberta Tibbetts and husband David of Waterville, ME, sister Frances Spaulding of Skowhegan, ME, sister-in-law Tammy Zeh and her husband Stephen of Temple, ME, step-sister-in-law Eleanor Ketchum of Embden, ME, grandchildren Ryan Tibbetts, wife Anissa (greatgrandchildren Kyrrah and Nicholas) of Waterville, ME, and Peter Tibbetts, wife Cara (greatgrandchildren Grady, Maggie, and Charlotte) of Oakland, ME, and Melissa and Zeno Corrigan (greatgrandchildren Natalie and Owen) of Oakland, ME, as well as nieces Barbara Mosher (John) of Florida and Brenda Tracy (Martin) of Cornville, ME. Surviving also are other nephews, great nephews, great nieces, and cousins. Special thanks are extended to friends who supported Mary and her family since Cecil’s passing and to the caregivers in the last six months of Mary’s life. You are all warm, loving people—angels in our lives. Thank you so much. A memorial celebration will be held at the Embden Community Center, Saturday, December 12, at 10 a.m. Join us for a breakfast/brunch celebration of the life of Mary Cross as well as a remembrance of Cecil who both enjoyed a community gathering—especially with friends, family, and food. Please bring pictures and memories to share.