Deborah Lynne Cross (Pickens) of West Hartford, Vermont went home to be with her Lord April 24, 2023, at the age of 71. She was surrounded by her loved ones and in the comfort of her home, succumbing to posterior cortical atrophy, a rare form of dementia. This condition first took her vision, keeping her from seeing the people and world that she loved so much.

Deb was born on December 5, 1951, in Youngstown, Ohio to Donald and Orlena Pickens. The oldest of four children, she was reared in the Midwest. She went on to attend Wheaton College in Illinois, where, on a blind date, she met the love of her life, Douglas Cross of West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. With their shared faith, loves of learning, nature and adventure, they were soon married on a beautiful Cape Cod summer day in August 1973, surrounded by family and friends.

In pursuit of their continued education and vocation, they first moved to Rochester, M innesota where Deb completed her degree in physical therapy at the Mayo Clinic. They were then on to Ann Arbor, Michigan for Doug ' s graduate studies in natural resources at the University of Michigan while Deb worked at the U of M Hospital.

Longing to return to New England, they moved east to the Berkshires. There, they started a family, welcoming first a daughter, then a son. Deb loved being a mother perhaps most of all. During her time in New England, she worked as a PT for the state of Massachusetts and as the keeper and interpretive guide at The Trustees of Reservation ' s Colonel Ashley House in Ashley Falls, MA, where she cultivated what became a lifelong love of Colonial New England homes, decoration, and gardens. Through church, community, and work, she forged lifelong friendships that she carried with her as she moved north to Vermont.

In Vermont, she devoted herself through many years of service as a PT consultant to the Family, Infant, and Toddler Project at The Family Place in Norwich, where she provided home-based evaluation and services for children from birth to three years-of-age. Additionally, she cared for children in New Hampshire, through Pathways (formerly United Developmental Services). Deb ' s heart was for these little ones starting life with extra challenges and for their families. She overflowed with joy when she could help them advance, seeing their excitement in acquiring newfound ability, and she held dearly to the sound of their exclamations as they welcomed her into their homes.

Deb was happiest when surrounded by family, she relished the planning and preparation of meals and activities for every gathering; she also loved sharing in activities like camping, hiking, canoeing, skiing, bicycling, and traveling. And always, she loved to have her hands in the dirt and her face to the sun—tending her beautiful plants and gardens and basking in the sunniest spot she could find.

Most important of all to her, she loved her Lord with all her heart. She was His faithful servant while on Earth, active in the church, teaching children ' s ministries and leading Bible studies.

She was an amazing wife and mother, and a loyal friend to all who knew her. We will miss her compassionate, loving, humble, gracious, thoughtful, and patient soul until we are with her again.

Deb and Doug were blessed with two children and three grandchildren: Katie Kristine (and husband Matt Wheel) of Essex Junction, Vermont, with their children Annalise and Hadley. Todd Bartholomew (and wife Kathleen) of Hartland, Vermont, with their daughter Maeve.

In addition to her husband, children, and grandchildren, Deb leaves her brother Stuart and his wife Kay Correll of Punta Gorda, Florida and her sister Pam and her husband Dexter Speck of Lexington, Kentucky. She was predeceased by her sister Cindy (Went).

At Deb's request, no memorial will be held. Condolences to deb's family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com. Charity contributions in her name can be made to The Family Place, Norwich, VT 319 US Route 5 South, Norwich, Vermont 05055