Patricia Ann Ross

Pat Ross was a beautiful person to know and to love. She lived her life selflessly giving so much of her time and resources to those she loved. Never one to hold a grudge or have a mean word to say about anyone, she modeled being accepting and understanding of all others. Pat was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who will be dearly missed by her many special friends and family. 1935 was the year of Amelia Earhart’s solo flight across the Pacific and the debut of Germany’s Volkswagen Beetle. Looking back on this period of time, it is difficult to recall much of anything that wasn’t affected by the Great Depression. There were few jobs and a soaring unemployment rate that left countless American families without homes. Despite these tough times, Wallace and Maxine (Stanton) Cousins celebrated with great joy the arrival of their newborn baby girl, Patricia on June 9, 1935, in Vicksburg, Michigan. Born after her older sister, Roberta, and later followed by her younger siblings, Don, Larry, Kenny, Allen and Dennis, her birth brought much happiness and promise to the family home. Pat lived a typical childhood of the times in the Fulton area. Her father worked at the Union Pump Company and her mother worked at Bronson as a seamstress after the kids were all grown. As a result, Pat learned how to pitch in around the family home at a young age. She attended local schools and was never short on friendships and activities to keep her busy during her developing years. She met her first husband, Joseph at a local dance hall after being introduced by her sister’s boyfriend at the time. They joined in marriage in 1950 and together raised five wonderful children; Mike, Judy, Bev, Joe and Deb. Pat relished in her years as a homemaker. Active as a parent, she was a leader of 4-H and attended to her children's every need when she wasn’t reading. Lucky for them, Pat was an exceptional cook and they grew accustomed to her home cooked meals, favoring her delicious scalloped potatoes on Sundays and her mouth-watering homemade banana bread. Pat’s wonderful hospitality always made their home a special place for her children’s friends to come and visit over the years. They always enjoyed her ability to support them and nurture them during their adolescent years. Pat instilled in her children to always have a generous heart and to spread kindness to others. Later she went back to finish her high school education along with her two oldest kids. She was interested in biology, yet had a natural artistic ability. She later took a few classes at the WMU school of art and enjoyed perfecting her craft. She and Joseph enjoyed bowling in a league for several years and she also enjoyed volunteering in her community. Pat especially enjoyed the years she spent volunteering for the Vicksburg ambulance service. Her marriage to Joseph ended in divorce by 1974. Pat later met Leroy Ross and they married, joining her children and his two children; Terry and Tommy. Sharing many commonalities, they enjoyed many happy years together as members of the Moose Lodge. They also enjoyed countless memories at their local cottage at Selkirk Lake hosting family gatherings as well as annual 4th of July celebrations. They also loved to travel and took some memorable trips out west as well as Canada during their later years. Pat and Leroy shared twenty-three wonderful years together until he passed away in 2001. For the remaining years of her life, Pat focused on many of life’s simple pleasures. She loved her cats and enjoyed reading. She also enjoyed listening to country music. As much as she enjoyed her years raising her own children, she cherished her role as a grandmother. She loved children and was always patient with each and every one of them. She wanted nothing more than to share in their every success and happiness. Pat lived her life fully as an easy-going and pleasant person to be around. She was always welcoming and committed to ensuring that everyone was made to feel special in her presence. A lifelong resident of the community she loved, there is no doubt that her loving nature and warm spirit will be deeply missed by her many special friends and loved ones. Pat Ross was a beautiful person to know and to love. She lived her life selflessly giving so much of her time and resources to those she loved. Never one to hold a grudge or have a mean word to say about anyone, she modeled being accepting and understanding of all others. Pat was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who will be dearly missed by her many special friends and family. 1935 was the year of Amelia Earhart’s solo flight across the Pacific and the debut of Germany’s Volkswagen Beetle. Looking back on this period of time, it is difficult to recall much of anything that wasn’t affected by the Great Depression. There were few jobs and a soaring unemployment rate that left countless American families without homes. Despite these tough times, Wallace and Maxine (Stanton) Cousins celebrated with great joy the arrival of their newborn baby girl, Patricia on June 9, 1935, in Vicksburg, Michigan. Born after her older sister, Roberta, and later followed by her younger siblings, Don, Larry, Kenny, Allen and Dennis, her birth brought much happiness and promise to the family home. Pat lived a typical childhood of the times in the Fulton area. Her father worked at the Union Pump Company and her mother worked at Bronson as a seamstress. As a result, Pat learned how to pitch in around the family home at a young age. She attended local schools and was never short on friendships and activities to keep her busy during her developing years. She met her first husband, Joseph at a local dance hall after being introduced by her sister’s boyfriend at the time. The two of them were a perfect match and from that moment on began plans for their future together. They joined in marriage in 1950 and together raised five wonderful children; Mike, Judy, Bev, Joe and Deb. Pat relished in her years as a homemaker. Active as a parent, she was a leader of 4-H and attended to her children's every need. Lucky for them, Pat was an exceptional cook and they grew accustomed to her home cooked meals, favoring her delicious scalloped potatoes on Sundays and her mouth-watering homemade banana bread. Pat’s wonderful hospitality always made their home a special place for her children’s friends to come and visit over the years. They always enjoyed her ability to support them and nurture them during their adolescent years. Pat instilled in her children to always have a generous heart and to spread kindness to others. Later she went back to finish her high school education along with her two oldest kids. She was interested in biology, yet had a natural artistic ability. She later took a few classes at the WMU school of art and enjoyed perfecting her craft. She enjoyed bowling in a league for several years and she also enjoyed volunteering in her community. Pat especially enjoyed the years she spent volunteering for the Vicksburg ambulance service. Pat also worked for Bronson, starting as a ward clerk and working her way up to the accounting department before her retirement. Her marriage to Joseph ended in divorce by 1974. Pat later met Leroy Ross and they married, joining her children and his two children; Terry and Tommy. Sharing many commonalities, they enjoyed many happy years together as members of the Moose Lodge. They also enjoyed countless memories at their local cottage at Selkirk Lake hosting family gatherings as well as annual 4th of July celebrations. They also loved to travel and took some memorable trips out west as well as Canada during their later years. Pat and Leroy shared twenty-three wonderful years together until he passed away in 2001. For the remaining years of her life, Pat focused on many of life’s simple pleasures. She loved her cats and enjoyed reading. She also enjoyed listening to country music. As much as she enjoyed her years raising her own children, she cherished her role as a grandmother. She loved children and was always patient with each and every one of them. She wanted nothing more than to share in their every success and happiness. Pat lived her life fully as an easy-going and pleasant person to be around. She was always welcoming and committed to ensuring that everyone was made to feel special in her presence. A lifelong resident of the community she loved, there is no doubt that her loving nature and warm spirit will be deeply missed by her many special friends and loved ones. Patricia Ross, age 85, of Vicksburg, Michigan, passed away at her home with family by her side, on June 29, 2020. Pat’s family includes her children: Michael (Kim) Olney, Judy Noel, Beverly (Thomas) Compton, Joseph Olney, Deborah (Charles) Rife, Terry (Karin Thorne) Ross and Thomas Ross; 13 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; her siblings: Larry (Barb) Cousins, Allen (Betty) Cousins, Dennis (Lee) Cousins and Roberta Casselman as well as several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy; her parents, grandson, Christopher Shipley and her granddaughter, Gretchen Olan; as well as her brothers: Donald Cousins and Kenneth Cousins. Pat was very artistic and enjoyed sewing with her daughters as well as luncheons and movies at her house. A visitation with her family and friends will be held on Friday, July 3rd from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the McCowen & Secord Funeral Home; Rupert-Durham Chapel; 409 S. Main St. in Vicksburg. A graveside committal service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the Vicksburg Cemetery. While visiting Pat’s webpage at www.mccowensecord.com please sign the guestbook by lighting a candle, and/or sharing a memory with the family. Memorial donations can be made to the charity of your choice.