Doris Laune Ross was born April 20, 1926 and died peacefully in her sleep August 4, 2015. She was the second of three children born to Cassie Laune Busher Ross and Henry Ross, both deceased. Her older brother, Henry Edward, died before she was born. Her younger brother, Glen Robert, “Bob”, was her confident, fishing buddy and best friend until his death in 1987. Though Dr. Ross never married, she leaves behind a wealth of friends, colleagues, and students whose lives she guided, supported and uplifted. Additionally, she leaves Mark Robert Ross, nephew, and his wife Sandy and children, Alex and Blake Robert, of Little Rock, Arkansas; Robin Laune Ross, MD, niece, and daughter Eva Mae of Tucson, Arizona; Mrs. Jane Ann Bickham, cousin, of Houston, Texas; Mr. Monte Carmichael, cousin, and his wife Margaret, of College Station, Texas; and many other beloved relatives.
Dr. Ross attended Texas Women’s University and received her Master Degree in Microbiology from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, when few women ventured that far or in that field. She received her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Texas in Houston, TX. However, throughout her life, Dr. Ross was a Texas Aggie through and through. Some of her family’s best memories are of being with her in College Station on game day for Aggie football-a family tradition she regularly participated in well into her 80’s.
Curiosity was the hallmark of Dr. Ross’ life. It defined her remarkable career, her love of sports, her uncanny ability to be a role model and mentor for so many people and her never-ending faith in the goodness of God. In her career, Dr. Ross was first and foremost a scientist. Her curiosity of how God worked through the laws and boundaries of basic science took her from her beginnings as an employee in the medical laboratories at Hermann Hospital to author and editor of Textbook on Urinalysis and Body Fluids, a teaching resource used for years in classrooms throughout the United States.
Second only to being a scientist, Dr. Ross was an administrator. Beginning as a faculty member in the Department of pathology at the University of Texas School of Medicine, she excelled as a leader in the academic world. In the 1980’s, she became Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences. As the world of medicine changed, resulting in the closing of the School of Allied Health, she could not just stand as a spectator. Instead, she spearheaded the birth of what is now The School of Biomedical Informatics at The University of Texas Health Science Center, one of only a handful of such schools in the United States at that time. As Dean, she recruited each faculty member, as Dean Emerita she remained in contact with new developments, and in retirement she continues to serve as advisor, mentor and friend to any who sought her counsel.
In her personal life, Dr. Ross was an avid sports fan, following the Texas Aggies and all of Houston’s professional teams year round. Additionally, Dr. Ross loved to travel. Her curiosity and adventurous spirit took her all over the world. As a young woman traveling alone in foreign countries, she was fearless and bold. As her career bloomed, many of her travels were taken as a representative of her profession in other countries. Many who traveled with her remember her endless energy walking the streets of distant cities at a pace well ahead of the pack.
Finally, Dr. Ross was a deeply religious woman. She aspired to always live her life through the teachings of Christianity. Her life did indeed reflect these teachings. Doris Laune Ross believed in the power of prayer, the goodness of God, the inclusiveness of Love, and the ability of faith to transcend all earthly pains. As the matriarch of the Ross family she will be deeply missed and always remembered.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Biomedical Informatics or a charity of your choice.
A memorial service will be held 9:30 AM, Friday, August 14, 2015, at Bayou Manor 4141 S. Braeswood Blvd. Houston, Texas 77025.
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