Katherine Joyce Kuster Cross, 70, of Montross, passed away suddenly on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Kathy was born in Maryland to the late Harold Sinclair Kuster and the late Barbara Anne Campbell Kuster. She was the beloved wife of 50 years of Melvin K. Cross, Jr. She and Melvin have lived in the Northern Neck since 1989. Katherine retired after a long and fulfilling career in housing advocacy. She was an active member of the congregation at Bayview Baptist Church in Colonial Beach.
Kathy’s passion in life was helping people. She was a kind, loving, and generous person who truly left the world a better place. Kathy began her career when her sons, Brent and Paul, started school. She took a position in the housing department and quickly learned the ropes, becoming a Section 8 specialist. When she and her family moved to Montross, Kathy helped establish the housing program there in conjunction with Westmoreland County Social Services and later finished her career with the Westmoreland County Housing Coalition. Kathy was deeply passionate about housing advocacy and about making sure people had what they needed to live lives filled with dignity and stability.
Nothing, however, came close to her devotion to her family. Kathy’s world centered on her sons and her husband. When Kayla was born and Kathy and Melvin began raising her, she quickly became the focus of their lives and their greatest source of joy. Kathy loved family trips, especially to Great Wolf Lodge and Yogi Bear Park. She and Melvin also loved the children at Bayview Baptist and made many camping trips with the youth group there. Her favorite colors were blue and red, and she had a beautiful voice. She loved singing and her sweet voice often filled the house. Kathy enjoyed the sweet, simple pleasures of reading books about the Amish and watching Amish movies on television. She was also a great fan of the Appalachian storyteller and bluegrass musician Tipper Pressley, whose blog and YouTube channel The Blind Pig and the Acorn brought Kathy many hours of joy. Kathy knew how to slow down and appreciate life’s gentler and quieter moments. She leaves that as a lasting legacy to all of us who were fortunate to know and love her, especially Mel and Kayla.
Left to treasure Kathy’s memory are her loving husband, Mel; her cherished granddaughter, Kayla Katherine Cross; her “adopted” daughter Kristi Roston; her siblings: Dave Conner, Douglas Kuster, Paul Kuster, Danny Kuster, and Delores Kuster; many nieces and nephews; and dear lifelong friends, Nancy and David Lantz.
One can only imagine the tender reunion as Kathy was welcomed in Heaven by her sons, Brent and Paul. They preceded her in death, and she felt their absence every day. Kathy was also reunited with her parents, Harold and Barbara, and her brother, Donald Kuster.
The Cross family will hold a Celebration of Life for Kathy this coming July. Please check back, as the time and date will be posted here once confirmed.
—Welch Funeral Home – Montross, VA
I utilize Google Alerts for keeping up with any mentions of myself, Appalachia, Blind Pig & the Acorn and Celebrating Appalachia that are published on the internet. One of the recent alerts was a link to the news of Kathy’s passing.
I never knew her personally, but I immediately went to the comments section here on the blog to see if she had ever commented.
Kathy left the following comment on the post about Granny’s passing.
“Awwww I sure will miss Granny’s beautiful face and the funny things she would say. I would sit for hours listening to her and her son Paul sing! She will be loved and missed by her beautiful family and her friends from all around the world including me here in Virginia.”
Here’s a very kind comment she left back in October.
“Tipper, I see you do alot keeping up with the Blindpigacorn and the Utube web site. You are faithful! Thank you as I look forward to all of it! My granddaughter said to me the other day hey Mawmaw you sure like listening and watching that lady (Tipper) every time I come in here you have it on! lol
Praying for Granny always.”
I’m honored and humbled to be mentioned in Kathy’s obituary. I wish I could have known her better. She left behind a wonderful testimony of a life dedicated to her family and helping others.
Last night’s video: Appalachian Man Remembers Close Calls from Childhood.
Tipper
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Tipper,
You are certainly worthy of mentioning. You are a blessing! You and your family touch so many lives by sharing. The kind words from Mrs. Cross regarding your precious Momma was beautiful. Prayers for comfort and healing to all.
Tipper, Dearheart, You are so worthy of mention, merit and praise. Many love you and yours!!!
Tipper ,that was such a heartwarming honor
Tipper, That was one of the most beautiful things I have read about you. There is so much more to you has a human being than even I think you are truly aware of. Kathy was certainly a beautiful woman who seemed to have had some struggles throughout her lifetime and she still managed to live a life of service. You were truly honored in her story of life. As I always say we are all truly neighbors no matter where we live. We all want the same things loving family, a great church community and Peace on earth. So not only are we celebrating Kathy for a life well lived. We are celebrating you Tipper as well for the wonderful person you are today, tomorrow and in the future. No good deeds go unnoticed.
Always your friend,
Esme’
Miss Tipper a friend is a friend indeed. Always there when we are in need. Mr. Normal and Mr. Benny, Sometimes we must do the opposite for family members who are quite ill. Their judgement of their health may not be what it truly is. Their denial of their condition may make judgement lax. It’s very hard to go against their wishes, believe me I’ve been there too, many times, but you have a clearer picture of what is truly going on. God bless you and your family, may He continue to guide you through this very difficult and painful journey. Amen.
Gos Bless Kathy and her family. How wonderful to know you had an influence in her life, Tipper. I think you have an influence in many many lives. I know my life is richer because I have found your blog and videos. I would miss you terribly if you decide to retire one day. I just love reading this blog and all the comments each day. Some days I don’t have a minute to comment because I have three of my little grandbabies hanging out with us. I do, however, relax that evening with the blog and/or watching your videos. It’s all just so interesting. Thank you.
So sorry for the passing of Kathy. What a lovely tribute to her. Tipper, you have touched many lives. You and all of your family bring a lot of joy to us acorns here. Thank you.
We never quite know the impact we can have on each other even indirectly. Kindness and kind words are powerful tonics to the human soul. God rest her.
How extremely touching! Here’s proof of how you touch so many lives with your posts and videos, beyond what I bet you could ever imagine. Thank you for all you do and for being so faithful to your Acorns.
Hi, Tipper!
I’ve been following you when I can get away to find solice in your teachings. Besides God’s Word, I find such delight in seeing what you and Matt are up to. I have only checked in a few times, but I’ve been blessed every time! I’m so happy for your new gravel drive way y’all recently had done! I enjoyed watching granny sing and I celebrate with you in her home going with Jesus. I can only imagine the void y’all must feel not having her presence. I love your accent by the way!, I came across your post several years ago after the terrible storm hit in your area. I prayed and ask the Lord how I could help. I was led to your intriguing post with a funny name Blind Pig and the Acorn! I had to see what this was all about! Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to share your daily walk with the Lord in your everyday life. Each day is truly a blessing !
Tipper, what a blessing your channel is. I share it with my parents who are 93 and 90. Thank you for your hard work and for touching our lives. Kathy sounds like a wonderful example of a life well lived. I can’t think of a greater honor than being mentioned in someone’s obituary. I’m honored to be a “prayer warrior” with you and our Appalachia friends. May God continue to bless your ministry and family.
Tipper, to be mentioned in an obituary is a great honor, and you deserve it. Kathy is surely just one of many who admire you and your family as they watch videos, read posts, and come back the next day for another lesson about Appalachia, without you knowing they are there. God bless Kathy’s family and friends during this difficult time.
An honor for sure Tipper, to have a mention in another’s obituary. One does well to touch or make an imprint on and in another’s life & heart – and you and your family do just that to each of us in your YouTube channels and this BP&A blog.
Such a beautiful, touching tribute to lives lived in love and the impact that has on others . Thank you for sharing that . Love and prayers for you all .
Tipper, you as so loved. I watch your You Tube channel to relax, learn, laugh and sometimes cry. The relationship you share with Matt is refreshing. Your girls & Austin are just precious. I watch their channel as well. I look forward to being able to see more of Ira & Woodrow. God bless you all & thanks for always keeping your Acorns in your prayers.
Sherri, I don’t know how to write the words to explain this. I too enjoy these relationships in Tipper’s family and seeing their enjoyment of being together. I was blessed to have had these same family relationships throughout my life not only with my family but also with my wife’s family. Now many of these family members have passed on. But I will confess and say it sometimes hurts and also makes me jealous or envious to see Tipper and Matt enjoying and doing things together. I told my wife just a few days before she died, I can’t put into words the happiness and joy I was having with her being retired and being with her each day doing the simple things common/ commonplace people do each day. I sometimes sit in my car and cry when at a grocery store or other place parking lot watching married men and women of my age helping out each other and just being together. On April 15th I will have been without her for 5years after being with her nearly 50 years when you include the time we “went together.”
Good morning, Tipper and Acorns. It is sad but every acorn must fall. Not every acorn becomes a majestic tree, but each one has GOD’s purpose in being. Tipper, I know how Katherine felt about you and all you do because I feel that way too. You and your family have become a big and blessed part of my life. So few people are kind and Godly nowadays and when I find them, they are treasured. I really enjoyed reading the tribute from her funeral home. TY for sharing this story of one of us Acorns. I know we all mean a lot to you. I hope you know how much you mean to us. If I never meet you here, I’m sure we will see one another in Paradise. I keep everyone here and up Wilson Holler In my prayers. I love y’all.
You have me thinking again. I didn’t know there was such a thing as Google Alerts. But it has shown, as has been mentioned already this morning, that you and yours are a thread that runs through the fabric of many lives, including mine and my wife’s. Your means of doing that is rather new and different compared to earlier times but the fact itself that person-to-person relationship is the riches of life is timeless. It makes me wonder. Remember Mordecai’s words to Esther, “Who knows but that thou art come into the kingdom for such a time as this?” The Lord has His ways and means of quietly working His way. You may recall I posted once that it intrigued me how your had built a community. I think you believe you had help. So do I and that makes me wonder even more. How often and how much are we individually instrumental in much larger things while being only dimly aware, or even unaware?
The lives we touch.❤️
If you ever wonder if all the work you put into your blog and channel is worth it, you just got your answer♡ We, that are lucky enough to have found you & your family, have gained not only the joy(and sorrow from losing Granny) of getting to know all of you, but also the wonderful support of the entire BPA community. My small group of the most wonderful friends on Earth all know my sincere happiness at having found you. A couple are now as “hooked” as I am. I’m gearing up for chemo treatment #3 on April 1st and would love any prayers for this cycle of treatments to be working as well as the one did 2 years ago. I truly feel that it is! My granddaughter and great granddaughter (9 months old) are coming for a visit, today and I am so excited. Have a fabulous day, Tipper, family and Acorns!
Praying for you, Kim ❤️
Tipper I hope you realize just what you and the family mean to a lot of us out here. We look so forward to the shows it’s like keeping up with family. Love to you all.
I wish I had known her, too! Seems she lived right across the river from me! I pray that she is having a long old talk with Jesus while delighting in a heavenly reunion with all those she has cherished from her past…including Granny.
I suppose the proper thing to do is to comment on her memorial page, if she has one? Y’know, something along the lines of, “It is an honor to have been part of Katherine’s life, and a sadness that I never got to know her in life…”, that sort of thing?
What a blessing Kathy was to many during her time on this earth. She made sure she blessed all those around her including you Tipper by mentioning your blog and YouTube channels in her obituary. Now others will connect with you to enjoy you and your family like she did.
My deepest sympathy to Kathy’s family and friends on her earthly departure.
Blessings and comfort to Kathy’s family and friends. Her life was filled with good deeds and love for others that will continue. Your work has touched many also and will continue also.
So very humbling to find these words in someone’s obituary. However, it is so very true. I do not always say anything on your Utube videos, but I so look forward to them each and every day.
Tipper, I seriously doubt you realize just exactly how much this Blind Pig and the Acorn blog mean to ALOT of people out here! After we get up and get the chores done and lined out, we immediately (if our health permits) go to your blog to see what’s going on and see what we can learn, share or pick up on. Your family is like our family and we just love keeping up with all the happenings ‘round your way of the woods! I’d gladly trade Google, my trash spy cell phone and smart (really dumber than dumb) tv for something better and less encumbering than these things, but I’d NEVER want to have to wonder and not see and hear you and what’s on your mind. You must face the fact you’re a very interesting lady, you’re a role model and everyone thinks I’m all the better for all the stuff I’ve learned and imitated from you like gardening, canning and here recently chicken tending. Besides Jesus, I think you give me a reason to keep going and trying all the things I always to try but had no instruction or didn’t know where to begin. If I die right now, I’d have to agree with Mrs. Cross you gave me hours and days and dreams to make myself believe in myself when no one could. It’s your FINE example that has made me a better person. I mean that and although we aren’t hang out buddies, I consider you a friend and maybe one of my best and closest as wierd as that may sound. I’m closer to you than my sister and frankly like you wayyyyyy more cause she’s a rotten user and high hat put on-always an eminent front cause she’s a put on. Anyway, have a beautiful day my beautiful friend. Since LATESHA my bestie died of cancer in 2018, you’ve took up that daily visit I so took for granted from her. I’ll never forget laughing hysterically when she told me “when I was a kid and I saw that John Cougar Mellencamp video of Hurts so Good and those people dancing down the street in leather and chains, I knew I had found my people!” She was actually a quiet, high end jewelry sales lady and I never saw her in chains or leather. Lol She died of pneumonia and was taken off a ventilator by her mother…they never had a funeral outside the immediate family. It hurt a lot to never say goodbye.
I thank the Lord for people like Kathy. I thank the Lord for you, Tipper ad well. Praying God’s comfort for her family.
Kathy sounds like she was a wonderful, loving woman, wife, mother, and grandmother. That was a beautiful tribute to a life well lived…thank-you for sharing about her, with all of us.
This is so sweet, Tipper. A very well deserved “shout out.” You greatly enrich many lives. God has given you a life full of deep meaning and purpose! Bless you for following His leading. You are making a tremendous impact far and wide.
Tipper, what a special honor to be remembered by Kathy in her obituary . A well deserved honor. You are a lovely sweet lady!
The interview with the Appalachian man’s close calls from childhood was so interesting. I had a few close calls myself as a child growing up in North Georgia. I wouldn’t change a thing about my childhood, though.
Have a beautiful day❣️
That is quite the honor to have happen to you Tipper! She was definitely a special lady living her life to serve others. Not an easy task to do in today’s world.
God comfort friends and family of Kathy in Jesus name , remember to pray for my brother he’s not doing good, thank you and God bless you, blood pressure is elevated and I noticed his nose is bleeding, not a lot, but I saw the pink on the toilet paper, he won’t let me call 911,
Tipper…
Mostly, none of us will ever know the imprint we leave on others, oftentimes strangers. What a lovely tribute to Kathy. She left you a very special gift indeed. Kathy’s life was a gift to others. So too is yours. You’re all a blessing to so many folks. Wishing you and your delightful family a blessed day.
I’d say that’s very special to be mentioned in someone’s obituary. Y’all are special, Tipper! God bless Kathy’s family.
Tipper, I doubt that you really understand or realize the influence or joy you bring or have on many people. Maybe God is using you and the BPA to enrich the lives of many of us. One thing I now noticed, many of the ones passing away will be around 70 years old. A 68 year old neighborhood man of mine I knew real well was buried yesterday, he was the picture of health but went to sleep last Friday night and didn’t wake up. Speaking for myself, now at 72 years old, this makes me wonder when it will be my time.