Karen Fay Ross

Karen Fay Ross (née Woodward), 82, passed away at Seton Ascension Hospital in Round Rock, Texas on December 4th, 2023. She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on November 6, 1941 (unaware of the events occurring at Pearl Harbor as a one-month old). Karen grew up looking after her 2 younger brothers (Ray and Tom) and found joy in aggravating her older brother Jack. She was a cosmetologist, worked for Paramount Laundry, was a military spouse, and eventually retired after 30 years as an accountant at the Texas State Comptroller’s Office. She met Bob Ross on February 15, 1964 and they were married on March 20th, 1964. Karen and Bob welcomed their son, Sean Ross, on March 29, 1968. Karen and Bob had 59 years of marriage, watched their family grow, and had many life experiences together.

During her life, she was able to go to Peterborough, England for four years while her husband was stationed there. While living in England, Karen went to Holland twice on day trips and to Rome, Italy for a week. She was able to keep in touch with the friends and colleagues found during those years and was happily surprised to find some of her friends from England stationed close to them when they transferred to Austin, Texas in 1974.

She enjoyed adventuring on cruises to the Caribbean, Panama (including a trip through the Panama Canal Locks), Hawaii, and Alaska with her family and friends. Karen attended many of the bimonthly get-togethers with her co-workers from the Texas State Comptroller’s Office. She enjoyed her membership in old car clubs and participating in the Car Club tours. She was a member of the AACA, Central Texas Region (Road Relics) club, the Austin Area Car Club, the Austin Area Cadillac club, and the Cen-Tex Tin Lizzies Model T Ford club. She liked to say “We had old cars before they were old cars”. She will be missed by many, many people.

Karen is survived by her husband, Bob Ross; her son, Sean Ross; her grandchildren, Amber Diaz and Stephen Ross; and her great-grandchildren, Sophia Diaz and Delany Diaz; as well as her brothers, Tom Woodward and Ray Woodward and numerous Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces, Nephews, and close Family Friends. She is preceded in death by her Mother and Father, Dorothy and Don Woodward, and her brother Jack Woodward.

Funeral Services will be held at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home on Anderson Mill Road on December 21, 2023 at 11:00 am.