Kimberly (Maker) Crossland

RONAN — Kimberly (Maker) Crossland, 45, went to join her ancestors of the Osage Tribe on Feb. 24, 2006. Kimberly was born Dec. 19, 1960, in Pawhuska, Okla. Her family moved to Missoula in the 1960s where she attended Roosevelt Grade School and Hellgate High School.

After high school she moved to the Flathead Reservation as a teacher's aide with the Head Start program.

Later Kimberly moved to New York to pursue her life's work with children. One that will always be remembered in her heart is Adam Dicterow. Kimberly touched the lives of so many people in New York and in her many travels.

She returned to Montana to be near her family during her courageous battle with breast cancer. So many thanks go out to Dr. Stephen Speckart and the staff at the Cancer Center in Missoula. Patty, thank you for all the reading material you kept Kimberly busy with.

Kimberly loved children, animals, the outdoors and all things natural.

She planted many flowers in hopes of seeing her tulips bloom this spring. She was a wonderful, caring person who strived to find good in people.

She is survived and loved by her mother, Kim Maker of Charlo; her soul mate and love of her life, Ed Graniero of Mt. Kisko, N.Y.; sister, Laura Crossland of Ronan and her brother and sister-in-law, Kent (Rhea) Crossland of Phoenix, Ariz.

She had many close friends who shared in the joys and struggles in her life. Some of whom are Karen, Glen and Adam Dicterow of New York, Arleen Dejone, the Graniero family, Duff and Marion Gerrish, the Toussaint Family (Sharon), the Hoyt family, Richard Eggert, Pat Hurley and Carolyn Myhre and so many more. Kimberly also leaves behind her beloved cats, Tar, Edie and Blackjack, that meant so much to her.

She requested no services. Her cremation will be handled by Shrider's Mortuary of Ronan. A celebration of her life will be held in the spring.