Marshall Ross

Marshall Ross was simply an amazing man, a man of character, of love, and of devotion. He lived his life deliberately with a sense of purpose so much greater than most of us. Marshall worked hard to care for his loved ones and would sacrifice whatever was necessary to make sure they had what they needed. With a love for music in his soul and a love for family in his heart, Marshall approached each day as an opportunity to bring happiness to those around him.

As the United States was celebrating a time of temporary peace and prosperity between the two world wars, Ezra Jay Ross and his wife, Josephine (Thompson), of Sparta, Michigan had a celebration of their own with the birth of their son, Marshall Jay Ross, on May 17, 1925. Marshall was the youngest of two children and grew up under the watchful eye of his big sister, Julia. While his father earned a living as a carpenter, and his mother was a busy homemaker, Marshall attended Sparta Elementary School until the 8th grade, and spent much of his leisure time fishing.

Marshall enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 24, 1943 when he was 17. He proudly served his country during World War II and saw combat in Africa, the European Theater and France. While in France, Marshall was wounded in battle, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart, and was sent back stateside to recover. It was during this time that Marshall went home to marry his sweetheart, Beulah Johnson, who he met prior to entering the military through her sister, Maxine. On June 16, 1945, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Marshall and Beulah were happily married by the Justice of the Peace. Shortly after saying “I do,” Marshall returned to his regiment until his tour of duty was complete on October 3, 1945.

Upon his discharge, Marshall returned home to his bride and they made their first home together in Marne, Michigan. It was here they shared many wonderful years together with their twelve children: Richard, Anna Maria, Rodger, Mitchell, Charleane, Sue, Bruce, Bonnie, Wanda, Stephen, John and Ron and later his many grandchildren. With a blooming family, Marshall worked for General Motors for a while before taking a job at Kelvinator Co. He then went to work at Wolverine Brass Company in Grand Rapids, where he remained a loyal employee until it closed its doors in 1988.

Time together as a family was always important to Marshall and Beulah, and over the years they took many memorable vacations to places like Washington, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Marshall always took an active role in his children’s lives, and supported them in all their endeavors, especially when it came to their sporting events. A big sportsman, Marshall was an avid bowler and played on several leagues, including the “Family Affair” and the “Tuesday Night Sippers,” and also golfed at the Little Acres Golf Course.

Marshall was a true jack-of-all-trades and could fix just about anything around the house. In his leisure time, he enjoyed keeping busy with some woodworking, making flowers, windmills, a camper and lighthouses for his family and friends. Whatever Marshall was doing, he was usually singing some kind of happy tune along the way. Whether he was singing along to the car radio, or cranking the stereo in the backyard on Saturday afternoons with music by some of his favorite country singers, like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Tex Ritter, Loretta Lynne, Patsy Kline and Ernest Tubbs – Marshall loved to sing. He could also play his favorite songs on the harmonica! In his quieter moments, Marshall liked to read Hardy Boy novels, and watch old western and World War II movies, and the game shows, the Price is Right and Wheel of Fortune. On the weekends, he and Beulah would head to the local halls for Bingo nights.

After Marshall retired, his wife Beulah continued to work for 5 years, so he took up the job of keeping the house running. He was a pretty good cook, especially when it came to his roasts, meatballs, ham dinners and homemade bread (of which he always made 12 loaves for his 12 kids). To satisfy his sweet tooth, Marshall liked any kind of candy, ice cream, root beer floats, Belgian waffles and pancakes. With family as the cornerstone of his life, Marshall loved having all his children and grandchildren over on Sunday afternoons for some good food, and lots of laughs. That was something that Marshall was never short of – a great sense of humor, something he enjoyed passing on to his children.

Although Marshall’s life was happy, it was also filled with great sorrow. He lost his beloved wife Beulah unexpectedly on February 1, 2006, after 60 1/2 wonderful years of marriage. Although utterly heartbroken, Marshall found great comfort in his children and grandchildren, who surrounded him with lots of support and love. His daughter, Charleane, even invited him to live with her and her family, which was an offer Marshall couldn’t refuse. To keep him active, his kids took him on regular outings, and it wasn’t long before Marshall put his love for singing to good use at Karaoke night at the Rogue River Inn, Pitt Stop in Marne, the American Legion Post #459, and at Pearson Village inn. He was going out to sing about 4 times a week and was having a blast doing it!

Marshall suffered with health problems for many years. Just before retiring, he suffered his first heart attack, but later had another one in addition to having congestive heart failure and his hip replaced. Then, this past December, Marshall developed pneumonia and his health quickly declined. He was put under hospice care 2 weeks ago, and died on Monday morning, March 22, 2010, surrounded by the family he loved so dearly.

A loving and devoted husband, father, brother and grandfather, Marshall will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

Marshall Jay Ross, age 84 of Marne, MI, passed away on Monday morning, March 22, 2010, in the presence of his loving family. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Beulah Ross, and his son, Stephen Ross. He is survived by his children: Richard (Joan) Ross, Anna Maria McPherson, Rodger Ross, Mitchell (Mary) Ross, Charleane (Phill) Zimmerman, Sue (Tom) Harris, Bruce Ross, Bonnie (Dave) Cichon, Wanda (Wendell) McBride, John Ross, Ron Ross; 24 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and 11 great great grandchildren; his half-brother, Owen Johnson.

A service to celebrate Marshall’s life will be held on Thursday, March 25, at 11:00 a.m. at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, Grand Rapids, MI. Relatives and friends may meet his family at the funeral home on Wednesday, March 24, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. and again on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the service begins. Please consider contributions in his memory to Friends of Michigan Veterans Homes or Spectrum Health Hospice. Please visit Marshall’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory with his family or sign his online guest book.