MARILYN ROSS
They say God smiles on the Earth through flowers, then heaven will be blooming something special as the best gardener we know has gone home this last Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.
Marilyn K. Ross passed away from the heart issues everyone thought she had fought so hard to beat.
Born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, Dec. 29, 1940, just before the outbreak of WWII. With four sisters and no brothers, it was a difficult childhood growing up on a farm. She graduated from Traverse City Central High School.
In 1975, she married Arthur Ross Jr. in Alpena and blended two families. Many will remember her from her years of hard work at the Grove Restaurant where she started out as a waitress. Eventually she became the manager of both the Grove and Fletcher Motel. She later traveled with Art, selling ads for Phone Guide.
She will likely be most remembered for contributing her time, energy, and creativity in the beautiful flower gardens around Alpena. Marilyn was a Master Gardener and a member of the Alpena Garden Club.
A devout Catholic, you may have seen her smiling face giving a helping hand at St Anne’s Catholic Church. An avid crafter, many a porch in Alpena County had hens and chicks and gnomes in clever potted arrangements by Marilyn. She could also play euchre with the best of them. Her rescue cat Missy will be missing her, like the rest of us.
She is survived by her five children: Arthur Ross III (Terry), Annette Baarlaer (Mark), Victor Ross (Debbie), Troyanne Diaz (Marco), Deborah Schackmann (Daniel). She is also survived by her grandchildren Duncan Ross, Emma Ross, Abby Ross, Jeremy Krueger, Shannon Krueger, Madison Diaz, Zachary Schackmann, Danielle Schackmann, Rebecca Rinke (Allen), Jessica Lee (Victor), Melissa Laliotis (Nick), and numerous great-grandchildren. Other survivors include her sisters Joan Buday (Ed), Beverly Clous, Karen Tetzlaff (Charles), and Kathryn Morio (Dennis).
Visitation will be held at McWilliams Funeral Home on Thursday Feb. 9, 2023, at 10 a.m. with the funeral service starting at 11am with the Reverend Tyler Bischoff officiating. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Friends of Plaza Pool, Friends of the Library-Alpena, or Hospice of Michigan.
Marilyn really loved watching beautiful sunsets; especially on warm summer evenings…we will all remember her when we see them too.