Frances Johnson

Frances Ruth Steen Cross Johnson, 89, died peacefully on Friday, August 27, 2010, at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, FL.She was born January 17, 1921, to Oscar William Steen and Liddia Mae Hrabe in Benson County, North Dakota.

Fran graduated from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota in 1943 as a Registered Record Administrator.She held a number of jobs throughout her career including being the first Registered Record Administrator for Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh, NC.She was a past VP of the N.C. Association of Medical Record Librarians, and a past Director of the American Medical Record Association.She ended her career retiring from the State of NC in 1985 as the Director of Quality Assurance Program for Mental Health Facilities statewide.

Fran was an avid gardener and birdwatcher; she loved to do crafts and loved to read.She was a long standing member of the Mine Creek Homemaker’s Club.After her retirement, she volunteered her time helping out at the J.C. Raulston N.C. State Arboretum and also volunteered with the NC Senior Games.

In her earlier years, Fran lived in North Dakota, Minnesota, Kentucky, and Jacksonville, FL.In 1946 she moved to Raleigh, NC and lived there until 2005 when she relocated to Bradenton, FL, near her daughter.

Fran was married to H.A. “Hank” Cross from 1945 until his death in 1966.She remarried in 1972 to James S. Johnson, Jr., who passed away in 1990.

Fran is survived by her immediate family: one son, William A. Cross and his wife Phyllis Cross of Vienna, VA and one daughter, Nancy C. Stockton and her husband Earl G. Stockton of Sarasota, FL; grandchildren: Kelly A. Hurley, her husband Kenneth, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Evan Stockton, his wife Jennifer and daughter Ryleigh of Bernardsville, NJ; Justin W. Cross of Richmond, VA and Anthony M. Cross of Princeton, NJ.

Visitation was held Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010, at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC.The service was held Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, at the funeral home with interment following at Raleigh Memorial Park, Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC.

There will be a memorial service at the Landings Auditorium at Freedom Village, Bradenton, FL, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010, at 1:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to American Macular Degeneration Foundation, PO Box 515 Northampton, MA 01061-0515 or www.macular.org/howhelp.html; or to Arthritis Foundation Membership & Donations, P.O. Box 96280 Washington, DC 20077 or www.arthritis.org/contact-us.php. Condolences may be sent at www.brownwynne.com.