RUEL PARKMAN CROSS
DOVER-FOXCROFT - After a lengthy struggle with cancer, surrounded by his family, Ruel Parkman Cross passed away at home on Aug. 31, 2003. He was born Sept. 12, 1926, in Guilford, to Eveline (Snow) and Hugo Cross. He graduated from Guilford High School in 1944, where he excelled in sports, particularly baseball and basketball. He enlisted in the Navy in 1944, serving in the South Pacific, and was honorably discharged in 1946. He was active in the Navy Reserves until 1950. He attended the University of Maine before returning to Guilford. Ruel was an active businessman in Guilford for many years. He and his wife, Joyce owned and operated both the Braeburn Hotel and H. Douglass Co., an independent grocery. Guilford Industries employed him in 1966, where he was in charge of quality control and manufacturing scheduling until 1975. His experience in town government encompassed years as a member of the Guilford town budget committee and as selectman for the town of Guilford. He was a founding member and past president of the Guilford Kiwanis Club, and scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 117. He served on the board of trustees of the Universalist Church of Guilford, and was a member of the Conner Trafton Post of the American Legion. Ruel served 12 years as town manager of Monson, from 1980 until 1992. During this time he was a member of the Piscataquis County budget committee, a member of the Maine Municipal Association Executive and Legislative Policy Commitee, as well as a member of the Maine DOT technology transfer committee. Elected to the state House of Representatives in 1992, he proudly served four terms. He was a member of the committees of corrections, inland fisheries and wildlife, and agriculture, forestry and conservation. He has served as a Piscataquis County Commissioner since 2002. Ruel was an avid Yankee fan and a lifetime hunter and fisherman. He shared his love of the Maine outdoors with his son and daughter.

He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Jacqueline Joyce (Jenkins) Cross; a daughter, Judith Cross-Strehlke; a son, Jeffrey Cross, all of Dover-Foxcroft; two sisters, Florence Underwood of Farmington and Frances Cross of Auburn; a brother, Hugo Cross of Dover-Foxcroft; and a special nephew, John L. Hamilton of Columbia, S.C.

A memorial service will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003, at the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church, with the Rev. Ken Dale officiating. Following cremation, burial will be in the family lot in Rural Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pine Tree Hospice, 891 W. Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, 04426. Arrangements are in the care of the Lary Funeral Home.