Noreen Ross

Noreen Ross passed away at home, as was her desire, on the morning of Monday, January 29, 2007. Above all else, she has been mother extraordinaire and friend to Rusty, Kathy, Steve and Janie; grandmother "Reen" to Amy and Michael, Blake and Hunter; great-grandmother to Henry and Harry. She is also survived by Rusty's wife, Mary, Amy's husband, Dan, Nancy, mother to Amy, and Blake and Hunter’s mother, Betsy. Her gifts to each of us have been her absolute love, care and support. She and they remain in our hearts forever. Noreen was born in Livingston County, Michigan, on March 6, 1920, the only child of Kathleen Roche Crotty and Daniel O. Crotty. She graduated from the University of Michigan and married Bob Ross soon after. She was preceded in death by Bob in 1991. By winter of 1952 they had come to their senses and moved to Austin. Bob had taken a position with the University of Texas. A few years later when he became general manager of the Driskill Hotel, the family made their new home on the 12th floor of the historic landmark and were happy there for many years. It was a front row seat for so many political, social and creative events. Rearing a young family in a hotel provided many stories. One of Noreen's favorites: the day that she realized that Rusty had gone to football practice without his helmet. She tucked the helmet under her arm, jumped in the elevator and prayed for an express to the lobby. But the car stopped on another floor. A gentleman stepped in and they rode together in silence. When they reached the lobby, Noreen stepped out and he spoke, "Lady, I hope your team wins." She served on the board of the Mary Lee Foundation, was active in the Seton Hospital Auxiliary and volunteered on behalf of the Settlement Home. She wrote for the UT News and Information Service, she designed and managed the first ever U.T. Visitors Center at the L.B.J. School. She retired in 1984 and continued to relish the many friends she made along the way. It is her remarkable life that we celebrate and her absence that we mourn so deeply. Visitation will be Thursday, February 1, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Settlement Home for Children, Gifts and Memorial Fund, 1600 Payton Gin Road, Austin, 78758. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com