Norma "Jeanne" Jean (Hacking) Gross

Norma 'Jeanne' Jean Gross, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed peacefully from this life on May 23, 2024. Jeanne was born on November 12, 1937, in Vernal, Utah, to Owen and Evelyn Hacking. Jeanne was the fifth of six children, with one sister and 4 brothers. Her oldest brother, Marion, chose her name. He passed away when Jeanne was 3 weeks old. She grew up in Vernal, UT, where she attended Uintah High School. Jeanne was very active as a child. She helped her family with gardening, canning, cooking, and hunting. She enjoyed horseback riding on the family horse 'Silver' and hiking at Uncle Duane's property at the power plant. She started playing softball at a young age and became an exceptional pitcher. She would practice pitching for hours a day by pitching at a specific brick on the chimney of her home, eventually breaking the brick. Jeanne married Earl Francis Gross on October 27, 1956, in Elko, NV. One of her favorite singers, Jim Reeves, sang at their wedding. Jeanne and Earl were later sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple in October, 1964. Jeanne and Earl both loved sports. They started the Vernal Dinah Softball Team where they traveled and competed against some of the top women's softball teams in the western United States. When their daughters were old enough to play softball, they started the Vernal Dinettes Girls Softball league. Jeanne was active as a coach and taught many young girls how to play the sport. Jeanne and Earl had 5 children: Danny, Debbie, Jeanne, Kim, and Angie. She devoted herself to teaching and raising her children. Her children remember the many hours she spent teaching them to garden, cook, preserve food, and sew. She was famous for her dough cake with penoche frosting at hunting season, her german chocolate cake, and whole wheat bread. Jeanne worked as bookkeeper for Ashton's, IGA, and American Gilsonite Credit Union. At the age of 51, Jeanne started college, earning Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Psychology. She worked at the Split Mountain Youth Detention Center, eventually becoming the Superintendent. She assisted many youth in changing and improving their lives. She retired in 2003. Jeanne had a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She served faithfully in the church and at the temple for many years. She cared for the elderly who lived in her ward, sharing the abundance from her gardens, small farm, and kitchen. Jeanne is survived by her children, Debbie (Todd) Hadlock, Jeanne (John) Wood, Kim (Tami) Gross, Angie (Greg) Henline, and daughter-in-law Charlene Gross; 24 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild; and brother, Mirl Hacking. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Francis Gross; her son, Danny H Gross; and grandsons, Brad Wesley Gross and Joshua Shane Wood. The family wishes to thank the staff at Canyon Home Care & Hospice for the exceptional and compassionate care they gave as well as family and friends for their love and support. Funeral services for Jeanne Gross will be held Monday June 3, 2024 at 12:00pm at the Vernal 6th Ward LDS Chapel (850 West 100 North). Visitation for family and friends will be held from 9:30am ~ 11:45am all at the church. Interment in the Rockpoint Cemetery next to her beloved husband Earl. Services under the direction of the Phillips Ashley Valley Funeral Home.