Mary Clay Nelms Cross, 98

Mary Clay Nelms Cross passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at age 98.

Born December 19, 1927, in Johnson City, Tennessee, to Erma King Nelms and Henry Clay Nelms. She lived a life marked by faith, humor, and generosity. She was an eternal optimist who always had a joke ready to share.

A charter member of West Village Christian Church, she served faithfully for decades. She was active in the Oak Ridge Women’s Club, where she enjoyed social activities and events such as the book club, she was in several bridge clubs and was an avid reader. She really enjoyed music and dancing most of her life and had fun taking flower arranging classes. At the Oak Ridge Senior Center, she volunteered giving manicures to seniors. She enjoyed helping her husband Rice Cross Jr at the Oak Ridge Farmers Market most Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Mary married Rice in 1950. They shared 50 years of marriage until his passing in October 2000. She was preceded in death by her parent’s, her husband Rice, sister Ann Elliott Beard, daughter Nancy, and son Rice H. Cross lll.

She is survived by her children, Kelly Loveless (Paul) and Jane Moser (Jeff); daughter-in-law Holly Cross; grandchildren Paul Loveless Jr. (Ashley) Lynsey Davis (Taylor) James (Annalise), Jacob Schneider, Josh Schneider (Stephanie), Natalie Ward (Clark), and Daniel Cross (Natalie); and great-grandchildren Sophie (16), Harper(12), Sawyer(9), Bowen (5), Maggie(10), Libby(9), Will(8), Ivy (2), and Hazel (9 months).

Mary’s career included work as an administrative assistant and teachers aid at Jefferson Junior High, Robertsville Junior High, Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center, and in child care. Her passions were jazzercise, baking, cooking, collecting blue glass, dancing, listening to music, and watching movies. Known for her big heart, strength, humor, and unwavering Christian faith, she never met a stranger and made everyone feel welcome. As she always said: “Your sweet as sugar and I love you always.”

Visitation will be Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at West Village Christian Church (637 Robertsville Rd Oak Ridge Tennessee 37830)

Graveside services will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Oak Ridge Memorial Park in the Garden of Memories.

A tribute to our Mimi by Holly McGuire Cross:

A grandmother who raises multiple generations of children gives far more than a home—she gives them a foundation. Through the years, she becomes a steady presence, offering love, wisdom, patience, and guidance to children, grandchildren, and sometimes even great-grandchildren.

She carries the lessons of one generation into the next, teaching children where they came from while helping shape who they will become. Her sacrifices may not always be seen or spoken about, but they live on in the values, traditions, strength, and love she passes down.

To raise one generation is a beautiful responsibility. To help raise several is a legacy. A grandmother who opens her heart and home to generations of children leaves behind something that cannot be measured: a family strengthened by her love and countless lives made better because she was there.

Her greatest legacy isn’t simply the children she helped raise—it is the generations who will carry her love forward.