Patricia Cress

Surrounded by family, Patricia Ruth Cress, age 93, passed away peacefully at her home in Fruita, Saturday, October 27, 2018.

She was born October 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska to father, Charles E. Atkinson, and mother, Ruth Atkinson.  Patricia (Patsy) and her younger sister Betty grew up on the family farm in Pawnee City, Nebraska. When her mother Ruth passed away at an early age in September 1942, her father took over the care of the two young girls while continuing to farm the land, raise dairy cattle, and turkeys for Butter Ball. Patsy grew up with a love for the land and her beloved horses.  Never losing her love of horses, she was able to ride one last time on her 90th birthday.

Pat graduated Valedictorian from Pawnee City High School in 1943, she continued her education at Grand Island Business College in 1944/45. She moved to Denver in 1945, where she met and then married Harry Cummings, on November 28, 1946, at the family farm in Pawnee City. They returned to Denver where they started their family of four children.  She worked as Deputy Division Chief of Records at the Department of Air Force, Air Reserve Personnel Center from 1945 – 1982.  She lost her husband Harry July 29, 1969, from a motorcycle accident.

She later met Walter Cress, Jr who she married on June 14, 1971.  In 1982 Walt and Pat decided to move to Fruita, where she chose to leave retirement to work for Central Distributing in Grand Junction from July 1983 until retiring again in December 1991.

Highly active in the social community, she belonged to First Christian Church of Grand Junction, where she was past president of, Church Woman’s Fellowship, and a member of the choir for many years.  She also belonged to many Fraternal organizations, including Columbine Court, Hosanna Shrine, Maharanee Court, Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America, Epsilon Sigma Alpha and Daughters of the Nile.

After her second retirement, she enjoyed visiting with family and friends, bowling, comfortable camping, and boating, along with working in her gardens and fruit trees in Fruita.  Her family grew to include her doggies Katie (1 and 2) and her kitties, including one, Silver who’s wondering where mommy is.

She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, and oldest son, Harry Cummings, Jr.

Survived by sister, Elizabeth Clark of Pawnee City, Nebraska, son’s George Thomas Cummings of Fruita, Charles Douglas Cummings of Aurora, Colorado, Daughter Margaret Ruth Thompson, adopted daughter Trish Stepp, both of Fruita, Colorado, along with 3 nieces, 5 Grandchildren, 16 Great-Grandchildren.

Brown’s Funeral Service is responsible for her cremation and memorial information.

Memorial Service will be held at First Christian Church, 1326 North 1st Street at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 20th.  Memorial Donations can be made to Shriners Hospital.