Robert Van der Voort Cross, 88, died May 9 at the Carolina Meadows Health Care Center in Chapel Hill.

Dr. Cross was born on March 30, 1921. He was the son of the late Dr. Earl Cross and Florence Stultz Cross, of Tarentum, Pa.

Bob is survived by a daughter, Jeffrey Jane Cross, of Durham, and a son, Robert V. Cross, Jr., of Arlington, Wash.

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be sent to UNC Hospice, P.O. Box 1077, Pittsboro, NC 27312.

There will be a private memorial service at a later date.

Arrangements made by the Cremation Society of the Carolinas. Online condolences may be made at www.cremnc.com.

Perry Harlan Linne

Perry Harlan Linne, 82, died May 8, at his home in Fearrington Village, Pittsboro.

Mr. Linne was born March 15, 1927, in Danville, Ill., the son of Frank and Marie M. Linne.

He retired after 28 years of service as a railway machinist, then taught blueprint math, machine shop and metric math for another 18 years.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Hawkins Linne; daughter, Michele L. Taylor of Pittsboro; three grandsons; brother, Robert; and sisters, Ruth, Julia Ann, Belle and Louise. Two brothers, John and Frank, preceded Perry in death.

A private graveside service will be held May 15 at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville, Il.

Arrangements are under the care of Hall-Wynne, Griffin Chapel, of Pittsboro.

Kourtney Kean Peterson

Kourtney Kean Peterson, 58, of Chapel Hill, passed away surrounded by her husband and sons on Mother's Day, May 10, after a sudden illness.

The daughter of Sam and Martha Kean of Toledo, Ohio, and Altamonte Springs, Fla., Kourtney was born on April 18, 1951, in Toledo. She graduated from Sylvania Northview High School and held a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Toledo (cum laude) and a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from Bowling Green State University.

She worked as a certified rehabilitation counselor in Toledo and in Chapel Hill, where she moved in 2003.

Kourtney enjoyed tennis, sailing and time with her family and dogs.

Left behind are her husband, Robert A. (Rob); son, Christopher Peterson, 19; son, John Kolasinski, 26 of Columbus, Ohio; brother, Jay Kean, of Port Saint Lucie, Fla.; brother, John Kean, of Toledo; and her whippet, Matey.

Kourtney dedicated her life to adults in need. She will be remembered forever by her family, friends, colleagues and the hundreds of people she helped out of difficult situations. The family asks that her memory be honored with donations to the Caramore Community, a structured support program restoring rich and satisfying lives to adults with mental illness (Caramore Community, 550 Smith Level Road, Carrboro, NC 27510, Caramorecommunity.org) or to the High School Sailing Program at the Carolina Sailing Foundation (Carolinasailingfoundation.org).

A memorial service will be held at Caramore Community on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.

Colleen Thrift Petty

Colleen Thrift Petty, 87, formerly of Old Sanford Road, Pittsboro, died May 8 at The Laurels of Chatham.

Mrs. Petty was born in Chatham County on Sept. 25, 1921, the daughter of John W. Thrift and Edith Dean Thrift. She was a graduate of Pittsboro School and retired from the textile industry where she had worked as an inspector. Mrs. Petty was a member of Hanks Chapel United Church of Christ.

Funeral service was held Monday at Hanks Chapel United Church of Christ. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Petty is survived by a daughter, Barbara Worrell and husband Rex, of Southern Pines; a son, Wesley "Butch" Petty and wife Susan, of Sanford; her sister, Mrs. Wilfred (Jessie) Lindley of Goldsboro; a daughter-in-law, Sarah Riddle Petty; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Her husband, Edward W. Petty, and son, Edward M. Petty, preceded her in death.

The family asks that any memorial contributions be directed to the Hanks Chapel Church Cemetery Fund, PO Box 360, Pittsboro, NC 27312.

For online condolences, please go to www.hallwynne.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Hall-Wynne, Griffin Chapel, Pittsboro.

Kenneth E. Strayhorn

Capt. Kenneth E. Strayhorn, USMC (retired), passed away May 5 following a long illness.

He was a native of the New Hope community of Orange County and a lifelong member of New Hope Presbyterian Church.

He was born in 1927 to E. Winston and Annie L. Strayhorn. He enlisted in 1944 and following service in the Pacific was assigned to the recruitment command in Durham. While there he attended UNC-Chapel Hill. He served in Korea during the Chosin Reservoir campaign and on his return was commissioned and assigned to flight school. He was with the first Marine aviation deployment to Vietnam in 1965 and served a second tour in 1968. On his retirement he returned to the family farm in New Hope. He was active in many civic improvement associations.

When he passed he was surrounded by his family -- Bob and Helen Strayhorn of New Hope; Mary Anne and Paul Williams of Jacksonville; Kenneth, Clare, Alexandra and John Strayhorn of New Hope; and Allison and Hal Grosso of Philadelphia. He was preceded in death by his son, Bill, in 1999, and his wife of 51 years, Jerry, in 2000.

A graveside memorial service was held May 8 at New Hope Presbyterian Church. The family received friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers, he wished his friends to make contributions to New Hope Presbyterian Church (Building Fund or Cemetery Fund) at 4701 N.C. 86, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 or the Amran Shrine Clowns, 11101 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27614.

Arrangements are by the Cremation Society of the Carolinas. Online condolences may be made at www.cremnc.com.

Please send obituary notices and photographs to sfarmer@nando.com. Obituaries are limited to 300 words