Sharon Kay (Fox) Cross

Sharon K. Cross, 82, passed away at 1:05 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at Friendship Manor Nursing Home in Nashville. Sharon was born on June 15, 1942 in Wood River Illinois and was the oldest child of Verdell Fox and Dorothy Fox (nee Heggemeier), well-known Nashville citizens. She married Lynn Hoepker in 1960 and they had two sons, Todd and Cary. On May 18, 1968, Sharon married local attorney Robert L. Cross and from this union their daughter, Elizabeth was born. Sharon and Bob were married for over 52 years until Bob passed away on August 6, 2020.

Left to mourn Sharon’s passing and dearly missing her are her sister, Connie Weber and husband Harvey of Kirkwood, MO, her three children, Todd Hoepker and wife Alexandra of Altamonte Springs, FL, Cary Hoepker and his significant other, Valerie Bell of Phoenix, AZ, and Elizabeth Casey and husband Bryan of Boise, ID, her six grandchildren, Garrett Hoepker, Griffin Hoepker, Kendall Hoepker, Orly Hoepker, Benjamin Hoepker, and Quinn Casey, many cousins, and countless friends. Sharon was preceded in death by her beloved husband Bob, her parents Verdell and Dorothy Fox, and her grandson Colin Hoepker. Sharon lived her whole life in Nashville and knew practically everyone in town. Her grandfather Howard Fox was the Nashville postmaster, her father Verdell was a machinist at the National Mine Company and a City councilman, and her mother Dorothy owned and operated Washington County Abstract Co. Sharon had an encyclopedic knowledge of Nashville and Washington County and was a real history buff who collected and lovingly restored photographs and memorabilia which had a connection to her family in Washington County, which goes back to her great great grandparents, Wilhelm and Sophie Heggemeier, who settled in Cordes in 1849. Sharon and Bob spent their entire marriage restoring their 157 year-old house on West Lebanon Street in Nashville. Together they worked tirelessly on the restoration and furnished the home with Victorian furniture, mirrors, draperies, artwork, and other antique items. They enjoyed creating and nurturing their yard, which was filled with fruit and nut trees, berries, and flowers. Sharon also managed the couple’s rental properties for over 40 years and was a benevolent landlord to tenants who needed assistance. Before she married Bob, Sharon worked as a nurse for Dr. Charles Longwell and was the first activities director at Friendship Manor.

Sharon and Bob attended church at St. Paul United Church of Christ and gave back to their community. They were members of the Washington County Historical Society and were instrumental in the purchase of the Society’s museum property in Nashville. Sharon served as chairperson of the committee which acquired and restored the McKelvey one-room schoolhouse west of Nashville. Above all, Sharon was extremely devoted to her family, was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, and was a great friend to all who were lucky to have known her. Sharon never met a stranger and treated everyone she met with kindness, grace, and her beautiful smile.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.styningerfuneralhomes.com or on its Facebook page. Those interested may make memorial contributions to The Washington County Historical Society in honor of Sharon K. Cross. Sharon’s family looks forward to seeing visitors at the Styninger Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025. A celebration of Sharon’s life will be held at the Styninger Funeral Home at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025 with food and refreshments being served at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Nashville after the celebration and the interment of Sharon’s ashes and Bob’s ashes in the St. Paul United Church of Christ Cemetery in Nashville.

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