Elizabeth Jean (Mcdermott) Ross

Elizabeth “Betty” Jean Ross, the dear wife of the late Wallace “Wally” E. Ross and beloved daughter of the late Michael and Nellie (Quinn) McDermott, was born on September 22, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan and departed this life on March 9, 2012 in the Mercy St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Missouri at 86 years of age.
Betty grew up and attended school in Michigan and graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Adrian, Michigan. She was employed by G.M. Diesel Division in Detroit, Michigan, and was in charge of overseas correspondence to technicians assigned to the Armed Forces. She later worked for the Ford Motor Company in the Purchasing Engine Division.
Betty was united in marriage to Wallace Edward Ross on June 26, 1947 in the St. Gabriel Church in Detroit, Michigan. Three children were born to this union.
Betty and Wally were active in politics. Betty was named Democrat Woman of the Year and later was appointed the first woman chairman of the Detroit City Election Commission. Upon Wally’s retirement from the Detroit Police Department, they moved to the Mtn. Grove, Missouri area in 1973.
Betty became an Independent and devoted her time to the Missouri Right to Life movement and was past chairman of the Mtn. Grove Chapter. She was an active member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mtn. Grove.
Betty was a published poet and she loved the outdoors. She was also an expert ice skater and an avid gardener. She liked to read, sing, dance and entertain friends and family in her spare time.
Besides her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother: Edward John McDermott; an infant sister: Mary Elizabeth McDermott; and by a grandson: Lauren Ross.
She is survived by two sons: Patrick Gerard Ross and his wife, Laura, of Merrill, Michigan and Michael Edward Ross and his wife, Karen, of Mtn. Grove, Missouri, one daughter: Karen Radjewski and Jim Bastien of Memphis, Michigan; one brother: William James McDermott and his wife, Bernice, of Taylor, Michigan; eleven grandchildren: Leigh Ann Ross, Shauna Ross, Patrick Ross, Caitlyn Frost, Ryan Radjewski, and Randy Radjewski all of Michigan, Ericka Krensner of Mystic, Connecticut, Kaycee Radjewski and Veronica Radjewski, both of Michigan, Jessica Owens of Maxbass, North Dakota, Joseph Ross of Mtn. Grove, Missouri; twelve great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends who will sadly miss her.


Funeral Service: Tuesday,
March 13, 2012 at 10:00 AM
in the Sacred Heart Catholic
Church in Mountain Grove.

Visitation: Monday,
March 12 from 6:00 – 7:00 PM

at the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home.

Burial: Thomas Cemetery