Audrey Mayola Metzger Cross was born on January 30, 1926, to John and Nellie (Williams) Metzger in Concord, MO. Mayola attended school at Concord School in the Concord community and graduated from Wardell High School.  After college, she taught second grade for eight and a half years, with one year served at the old Stanley School and the rest of the years at the Concord School.

Mayola was united in marriage to B. A. (Boots) Cross on September 15, 1947, in Matthews, Missouri.  They were married for 69 years. He pre-deceased her in 2016.

Mayola was a homemaker until her children were in school and then worked with her husband in their grocery store, Cross' Big Star for nearly twenty-five years.  After retirement, she enjoyed traveling with her husband in their motor home and later with her two beloved sisters, Margaret and Geneva.

Mayola was preceded in death by her parents, John W. Metzger and Nellie Metzger; husband B.A. "Boots" Cross; sister, Margaret Del Monaco; brothers William "Bill" Metzger, Murrell Mullins, Jimmy Metzger, Cletus Metzger, and J.W. Metzger.  She is survived by her two daughters, Toni Cross (David Pichette) and Celeste Cross Shull (Robert Shull); her two granddaughters, Caitlyn Doyle (Joseph Doyle), and Colleen Doetsch (John Doetsch), her sister-in-law Rosa Lee Metzger (Jimmy) her brother Ralph Metzger (Jean), and her sister, Geneva Metzger as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and her wonderful caregiver Mary Ogbeh.

Mayola taught Sunday School to second and third graders at First Baptist Church of Hayti for many years and loved and served First Baptist Church for over 57 years.

Mayola always loved a big crowd of fun-loving people.  She had a good sense of humor and could "take and make" a joke.  She loved learning about new places and things, but never wanted to live anywhere else than Hayti, Missouri.  When she moved into assisted living near family in 2017 (the first time she had ever lived alone in her life), she was present at practically every activity including exercising. She joked that she was always a "good eater."  She was strong and adaptable and rarely complained. Her family loved her very much and will deeply, deeply miss her.

John W. German Funeral Home to be in charge of services.  Visitation is to be held from 6 to 8 pm on Friday, August 9th, and 11 am to 1 pm on Saturday, August 10th.  Funeral at 1 pm August 10th.  Visitation and services are to be held at the First Baptist Church, 100 E. Main Street, Hayti, MO. Service to be given by Pastor Mark Hoover. Deacons of First Baptist Church, Hayti, to be pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dry Bayou Cemetery Fund in care of First State Bank of Hayti, Missouri, 805 E. Washington St. Hayti, MO 63851