Christine Cross was born in Shreveport, LA on November 30, 1932 to John Othal and Leslie Shaw Cross.  She was raised in Beaumont, Texas as one of 6 children.  She had two brothers, Nelson and John and three sisters, Florene Cross Forest, Clariece Cross Connor, and Mattie Cross Byley.    At age 16 she finished high school, moved into her own apartment and began working as a dental assistant.  When she was visiting her sister, Clariece, in Daingerfield their car hit a deer at night.  They called several places for wrecker service but couldn't find one until they called the Ford dealership in Naples.  Chester Milton Coker was working late that night and took the call.  He decided to drive the wrecker over and help them.  Christine and her husband-to-be, Chester Milton Coker, met because he towed their vehicle into the Coker Ford dealership in Naples for repair.  They married in 1953 and had 3 children, Chester Cross Coker, Debra Lea Coker, and Milton Ennis Coker.

Chris loved being a mother and she also loved art.  She loved to paint and loved selling her art work and teaching art to children.  With an adventurous spirit, Chris was at her best when traveling. Whether it was a trip to Yellowstone to see the geysers and the bears or a trip she and Chester Milton took to Alaska, a trip that they took by car that lasted 3 months, she loved the novelty of traveling and relished exploring new places and meeting new people.

Her favorite shoes were high heels.  She was delighted that she wore the "sample" size and could be a foot model. She usually wore pearls and red lipstick.  She also enjoyed her bridge club.  She was fascinated with social etiquette and made sure her children displayed proper manners.  She was a member of the 1 ^st Baptist Church and always kept a Sunday school booklet in her bathroom.

Chester Milton passed away in November of 2005.  She said she and Chester Milton fell asleep holding hands every night and she was lost without him.  She moved out of her Naples home in the woods and into assisted living first in Rockwall and later at Bluebonnet in Naples.   The reception area and some of the halls at Bluebonnet displayed some of her paintings during her stay there.  In her later years people often commented on how pleasant Chris was and that she never complained, even when she had reason to.

Christine was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings, and her husband, Chester Milton Coker.  Survivors include: her son, Chester Cross Coker and wife, Cynthia Coker, her daughter, Debra Lea Coker Haywood and husband David Haywood, and son Milton Ennis Coker. Her grandchildren include Chester Ehren Coker and wife Sara Coker of St. Louis, Missouri, Milton Jason Coker and wife Brandy of Longview, Kenneth Clifton Coker and wife Zoe of Austin, Texas, and Arielle Elonys Coker of Hollywood, California. Her great-grandchildren include Kaleb, Araya, and Sadie Coker of Longview, Texas, Corban and Maple Coker of St. Louis, Missouri, and Fiona Coker of Austin, Texas.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at Harrison Funeral Home in Naples.  Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 17, 2019 at First Baptist Church in Naples with Rev. Bo Stevens officiating.  Interment will follow at Wilder Cemetery in Naples.