Orus "Cecil" Cross went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 28th, 2024, at the age of 84. Cecil was a long-time resident of Reddick, Illinois.

Cecil was born December 5, 1940, in Grand Tower, Illinois. He worked for ComEd for many years before retiring. He had a kind, loving heart and was always willing to start up a conversation with anyone. Cecil loved being with his family and friends, as well as frequenting the VFW in Dwight. He is a well-known name to everyone in the area. He also adored having photos of everyone he loved, and even got a smartphone simply to be able to see and access more pictures of them. Cecil was a very charitable man and always wished to give back to those in need. He was a man of many hobbies, including collecting model cars, tractors, and various trinkets which he would often gift to those he cared for. He loved car shows and was proud to show off his prized blue Chevy. Cecil often joked he'd live to be 100 years old but had recently upped it to 126. He took pride in the fact that he had his first and only surgery at 83 years old. His memory will be carried in our hearts, and the memories that have been made will be cherished deeply.

Cecil is greeted by his parents, Rev. Otis H. Cross Sr. and Nora (Anglen) Cross Arnold; sister Pauletta Cross Hamburg and brother-in-law Bill Hamburg; brother Otis Hubert Cross Jr. and sister-in-law Bonnie Cross; brother-in-law Kenneth Benzschawel; daughters Jamie Bourn Davis and Jessica Presler; nephew Brian Potts; and his two beloved birds, Patty and Buddha.

Cecil will be remembered by sister, Mary Jo Benzschawel; his daughters Somar (Sean Cummins) Preussner, Cynthia (Michael) Pearman, and Jennifer (Josh) Markoff; many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Cecil also will be missed by numerous treasured friends.

Funeral services for Cecil will be held on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at 1:00 pm at Farkas Funeral Home, 3201 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL. Visitation will be held from 11:00 am until time of services. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park.