Joyce was born on May 2, 1927, in Ira, Iowa, to Sydney Rucker and Leona Sutton. Joyce lived in Ira, Rhodes and Baxter before moving to Newton.

Joyce graduated from Baxter High School in 1945. After school, she married Norman Bucklin and later Robert Cross. The couple resided in Baxter where they raised their children. She held a variety of jobs throughout he life including mailroom at Kresge’s; Newton Manufacturing; waitress; cook; cleaning homes and offices.

She eagerly volunteered her time as a member of the PTA; Athletic Booster Club and Band Mothers when her children attended Baxter Community Schools. She took great pride and pleasure in watching them participate in sports, chorus, band and drama. Later, she enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in a variety of activities with that same pride and pleasure.

Joyce was also an active and valued member of the Baxter community; Baxter Congregational Church of Christ and Baxter Women’s Coffee Club. She readily volunteered her talents in assisting with all church and city-wide celebrations and activities.

Her passion was her children, grandchildren and great-children and relished every single minute she could spend with them.

Joyce is preceded in death by her mother – Leona Sutton; her husband Robert Russell Cross Sr.; son Michael Bucklin; daughter Mary Bucklin; son-in-law David Brant; grandchild Danny Cross and her great-grandchild David Erickson.

She is survived by two daughters: Norma Brant and Marsha Vollman (Dennis); four sons: Eldon (Cathy); Robert Jr. (Deanna); Alan (Marilyn) and Bennie; nine grandchildren: Jami (Grant) Jacobson; Kyle (Tisha) Cross; Tracy (Jennifer) Cross; Alec and Ian Beck-Cross; Dave and Jeff Brant; Amanda Hawkins; nine great-grandchildren; eleven step grandchildren and thirteen step great-grandchildren; many nephews and nieces.

Memorials can be made to support the Baxter Music and Athletic Boosters.

Visitation will be held at the Baxter Congregational United Church of Christ – 218 S. Main Street, Baxter beginning at 10:00 a.m., funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m.; luncheon at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 8, 2018. A private burial with immediate family only will take place in Restland Cemetery in Baxter. Arrangements have been entrusted to Fredregill Funeral & Cremation Care in Baxter.