Edna Earl Dowdy Shoopman Cross, 96, found eternal peace on October 14, 2018 at Glen Oaks Health Campus in New Castle, IN. Edna was born on June 3, 1922, the third daughter of Mary Ann Pittman Dowdy and Shirdy Pickens Dowdy. She was named Edna Earl, by her grandmother, Lucy Beasley Pittman.
Edna Earl was the name of the heroine in the book, St. Elmo. Coincidently, both Edna Earls were born in a small town in TN, both had strong moral compasses and both valued education. Edna was one of ten children,… Read More » four of whom survive.
She attended school in a one room school in Byrdstown, TN. She graduated from Royerton High School in Muncie, IN. While in high school, she worked as an elevator attendant at Ball Brothers Department Store.
In 1948, she married Granville Curtis Shoopman. For a short while he ran a small store and she was the Assistant Postmaster in Huntersville, Kentucky. In 1953, they moved to New Castle, IN.
Edna attended Ball State University which was then called Ball State Teachers College. She accepted a job in special education and taught for 13 years until retiring to Clearwater, Florida in 1971. She and Granville later moved to Asheville, North Carolina and remained there until his death in 1980.
They both worked at Eliada Home for Children. Edna was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader and belonged to Altrusa Club and the Raintree Circle Home Extension Club. She enjoyed crochet, embroidery, jewelry making, camping, and quilting.
Edna pieced her first quilt when she was only eight years old. At age 91, she entered her last quilt in the Extension Homemakers Open Show and was very proud to receive both first place and the People’s Choice Award. But her favorite activity was watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren perform in sports, music, and academic areas.
She was their number one fan. Survivors include one daughter, Donna Jean Bouslog (Richard), grandson, R. Scott Bouslog (Julia) of Spiceland, IN, granddaughter, Amy Katharine (Rob) of New Castle and four great-grandchildren, Kaitlin Marie Frost of West Lafayette, IN, Lauren Mackenzie Bouslog of Muncie, IN, Elizabeth Kathleen Frost and Alexander Scott Frost of New Castle, IN. Survivors also include two brothers, Cecil and Lonzie (Diana) of Byrdstown, TN, two sisters, Joretta Jones of Knightstown, IN, and Phyllis Whitt (Don) of Byrdstown, TN.
She is also survived by a sister-in-law Lucy Laugesen of Ft. Collins, CO and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by an infant son, Thomas Earl Shoopman, her first husband, Granville Shoopman, in 1980, an infant granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Bouslog, in 1982, and her second husband, Martin Cross in 2001.
Also preceding her were brothers, Hershel and Virgil Dowdy and sisters, Kay Leslie, Clara Boyer, and Loxie Dowdy and several nieces and nephews. The calling will be Thursday, October 18, 2018 from 12:00 until 2:00 P.M. at Macer-Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services. The funeral service will be held Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. at Macer-Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services in New Castle, IN.
Online condolences may be made to www. macerhall.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the New Castle High School Choirs, 801 Parkview Drive, New Castle, IN, 47362, Attn: Matthew Hurst.
Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Macer-Hall funeral directors are honored to conduct the service for Mrs. Cross.
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