Mary’s family moved from Arkansas to Ardmore Oklahoma when she was a young girl. She met her husband-to-be, James Robert Leroy Ross “Leroy”. They married on December 28, 1938 and spent the next seventy years of their lives together.
With two children in tow, they moved to Niles Canyon, California. Prior to the birth of their third child, Leroy was drafted into the Army and Mary worked in the shipyard like so many other young couples.
When Leroy was discharged, they purchased a small ranch in Newark, California where their last three children were born. The surrounding townships were growing, houses crowding a little close for Leroy’s comfort. Leroy and Mary purchased a ranch in Turlock and moved in 1962 with four of their six children.
Mary lost both her eldest son, Jim of Fremont, California and her husband, Leroy, to cancer in 2009. However, she is survived by five children: Sherry of Livermore, California, Carol of Turlock, California, Cathy of Thornton, New Hampshire, Larry of Hilmar, California and Pat of Stevinson, California; thirteen grandchildren, Cheryl, David, Susan, Tammi, Bill, Terra, Robert, John, Wade, Kari, David, Lee and Kevin; twenty-six great-grandchildren, twenty great-great-grandchildren and one foster child.
Mary lived a long life of 100 years. She was unassuming, quiet, kind, loving and caring. She had God-given talents of poetry, drawing, painting, photography and decorating, and used those talents to proclaim Jesus Christ and God’s love to anyone who had an open heart. She taught Sunday School at Bethel Temple in Turlock {now Harvest Christian Center.) She decorated the foyer bulletin board for many years with poems and other inspirational material, and continued her attendance there until she could no longer due to her health.
She was cared for by her daughter, Carol, and was fortunate to live her life out in her own home and familiar surroundings. Mary passed on August 29th. She has always been deeply loved and will be sorely missed by all her family and friends who knew her.
A graveside service was scheduled for 10am, Thursday, September 9, at Lakewood Memorial Cemetery. Family only attended due to Covid. The family has requested that flowers not be sent, however wish to express appreciation for your condolences.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5