Andrea Cross

(From Greenfield Funeral Home)

Andrea R. Cross, 74, of Greenfield, MO, passed away on September 3, 2026, in Joplin, MO.

Andrea was born August 5, 1952, to Ellis and Velma (Mohwinkel) Spain. She graduated from Lockwood High School in 1970 and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Southwest Baptist University in December of 1973. Andrea began teaching, but while working full time and raising a family, she returned to SBU and earned her Master’s degree in 1990.

Andrea accepted Jesus as her Savior on Mother’s Day in 1960. While in high school, she was the lead singer for the group Kings Crusaders, which was composed of members of the youth group at Kings Point Baptist Church near Lockwood, MO.

During college, she was a member of the gospel group "Way, Truth, and Life," which performed in several cities across southern Iowa and northern Missouri. The group even recorded an album before two of the members left to get married and the group dissolved.

While attending SBU, and for a few years after college, she served as music leader and devotional leader for dozens of revivals. She was also a summer missionary in California during the summer of 1973. Andrea was a lifelong educator. That passion for serving students started with a teaching job at Cole Camp, MO, in January of 1974.

Andrea married Charles Cross of Lebanon, MO, on May 26, 1974.

That summer, Andrea worked as a periodicals librarian at SBU. That fall, her teaching career took her to Exeter High School, where she worked for two years. In 1976, she accepted a position at Greenfield High School, where she spent the majority of her teaching career, serving for more than 20 years as a teacher and coach. Andrea also taught at Pierce City Schools and Round Grove Christian Academy and ran Adult Basic Education GED classes in Greenfield for several years.

She finished her career as a counselor at Dadeville High School. Andrea called these final years as a counselor her most fulfilling in education. She worked tirelessly to ensure that any student desiring a college education was able to reach that goal. Her knowledge of colleges and scholarships allowed students from many area schools to get a college education and achieve their dreams.

In December of 2023, Missouri State Representative Ann Kelley presented Andrea with a House resolution congratulating her on 50 years of teaching in Missouri. Even after retirement, Andrea continued helping students improve their college admission scores and earn scholarships to help pay for that education.

During her 49 years of marriage to Charles, Andrea served as a music leader, Sunday school teacher, treasurer, and in any other capacity needed to serve God in the various churches they served.

Andrea provided extensive volunteer service to her community as well. She helped start the Dade County Community Theatre and was on the team that revived the historic Opera House in Greenfield in 1988.

She served as secretary of the Greenfield Ministerial Alliance, volunteered for Ozarks Food Harvest, and served as a judge for the Veterans of Foreign Wars speech contest and other area speech competitions.

Andrea was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Cross; her parents, Ellis and Velma Spain; her brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Delores Spain; her sister Louise Houston; and her sister-in-law, Wanda (Morrow) Spain.

She is survived by her brothers, Leroy (Linda) Spain of South Greenfield, MO, and Neal Spain of Derby, KS; her children, Sheila (Stephen) Buus, Philip (Keiana) Cross of Edmond, OK, and Annette (Scott) Wagoner of Webb City, MO; and her grandchildren, Josiah Wagoner, Isaiah Wagoner, Selah Cross, Karis Cross, and Eliana Buus.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 7, 2026 at Main Street Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Kings Point Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Main Street Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Solace House of the Ozarks. Services are under the care of Greenfield Funeral Chapel.