Joyce Jenkins Cross

Joyce Jenkins Cross died peacefully at Mayo Regional Hospital after a short illness at age 90. She was surrounded by her loving children. Born August 11, 1927 in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, she was predeceased by her parents, Claude and Grace Jenkins of Dover-Foxcroft. She was also predeceased by her three sisters, Betty, Francis, Bernice, all of Connecticut and two brothers, Beverly and Erland also of Connecticut. She was predeceased by her husband of 56 years Ruel Parkman Cross who died in 2003. She is survived by her two children, Jeffrey Parkman Cross and Judith Louise Cross Strehlke. She was especially close to a special “adopted” granddaughter, Jessica Edwards Lyons and her son Kayden.
After Joyce stopped driving in 2013 she would often be seen around town on her electric scooter.
Joyce was the first member of her family to graduate from high school from Foxcroft Academy in 1945. Joyce was an avid athlete and played all the sports that they had for women during her high school years. Joyce attended the University of Maine in 1945 and 1946 before marrying her husband Ruel in 1947. Her son Jeff was born in 1948 and her daughter Judy was born in 1950.
Ruel and Joyce ran both The Douglas Store, an independent grocery store, and the former Braeburn Hotel on Main Street in Guilford for over 30 years. During that time, Joyce was a Champion golfer. She was the Woman’s Club Champion at the Piscataquis Country Club and won many other championships over the years. Joyce was also a skier and was active in the Friends of Squaw Mountain for many years. Joyce loved to swim and swam daily at the YMCA in Dover before she opened her antique shop for the day. Joyce was an avid Patriots fan and Yankee fan. She was a cutthroat bridge player and hosted weekly bridge games at her home.
In 1970 Joyce began to work in her family business, Jenkins Antiques in Dover-Foxcroft. She and Ruel purchased the business in 1980 and moved to Dover-Foxcroft where she continued in this field until she retired and closed her shop at the age of 83. She was well known throughout Maine as an expert in Old Ivory China and had one of the largest collections in the state. The shop was unique in that her entire home was furnished with antiques so people could see what it was to live with antiques.
Joyce was the chef for the Northern Maine Riding Adventures horse business owned by her daughter, Judy. She prepared all the food for the meals served to the guests that came on trail rides. She hosted many International Horse Professionals from Finland, The Netherlands and Spain who were at Northern Maine Riding Adventures to teach Equestrian Clinics. She was well known for providing food for the clinics. She loved to entertain and often had guests for dinner.
There will be a memorial service and graveside committal on August 11, 2018. In place of flowers, please send any donation to the Dover-Foxcroft Food Cupboard, in care of the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church, Dover-Foxcroft.