James Walter Cross

James Walter Cross, 84, of Memphis, passed away Sunday, July 16, 2023 at McLaren Port Huron hospital. James and his late wife Judith (Jim and Judy) spent over forty years in their adopted hometown. He was born in Roseville, MI on September 8, 1938 to the late Julius and Doris Cross. Jim and Judy fell in love while still teenagers and remained so throughout their long marriage. Jim joined the US Army as a young man, then returned to Michigan to become a precision Tool & Die maker that spent over thirty years working at Croy Tool & Die, his father’s business. He also worked at Camdale Tool & Die. Jim was a master craftsman at his trade, and also loved to use his skills to build motorcycles, including a two-engine V-8 shown at Cobo Hall, and several Quads that his sons raced. He worked with his sons on engines, Rat Rods, and almost anything that moved. He was renowned as someone able to fix anything. James was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Surviving him are his children, whom he greatly loved, Debbie Walker-Lass, (Burton Lass) Julius James Cross II, and Andrew Cross. He was the cherished grandfather of Nicole Jones (Tim) Amanda Brodsky, (Cameron) Julius Cross III, Barbara Hussein (Adam) and Jesse Mabie, and loving great-grandfather of Karah Anderson, Callen Brodsky, Ethan, Evelyn and Asher Hussein and Emma, Andrew and Alex Mabie. James was also fortunate to have Lynette Kiekens in his life, a great friend of the family that helped him live his life in recent years. In their later years, the traveling bug hit Jim and Judy, often landing them in Arizona, Michigan, Canada, and Georgia, where they visited with family and enjoyed gambling. They loved Tybee Island, Georgia, where they visited several times. Until the last, Jim continued to enjoy scratch-off tickets and he contributed greatly to the Michigan State lottery! James was a very caring man with a whip-smart sense of humor. He was very proud of being an US Army Veteran.

He loved and cherished his family above all. He will be missed every day.

A family Memorial Service will be held at a later date.