Obituary of Chester L. Ross

Funeral Services for Chester Leo Ross of Elsberry, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 19, 2007 at New Hope Baptist Church near Elsberry, MO. Rev. John Zellmer, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, will officiate with burial in Star Hope Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be John Fakes, Jeffrey Pratt, Mara Allen, Michael Whyte, Jared Pratt, Timothy Baker, Jacqueline Pratt, Andrew Ross and Wade Ross. Mr. Ross, 84, died early Tuesday morning, October 16, 2007 at Elsberry Healthcare Center near Elsberry. Born February 8, 1923 on a house boat on the Illinois River near Eldred, Illinois, he was the son of Albert Jackson and Blanche May Fox Ross. A Veteran of World War II he served his country in the United States Navy from April 17, 1944 until being honorably discharged on May 10, 1946. He was stationed as a seaman on the UUS Mifflin in the Pacific Theater from 1944-1945. He was united in marriage on March 13, 1947 to Mildree Alice Foster in Foley, MO. This union was blessed with five children: LaVerna, Brenda, Suzette, Rita and Chester. He farmed for many years in the Foley bottoms, New Hope area and several islands in the Mississippi River, retiring in 2003. Mr. Ross was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church near Elsberry. He was a volunteer for Meals-on-Wheels. He played hard-road baseball in Foley and Elsberry. He enjoyed trapping, hunting, and numerous other sports. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Blanche Ross; and one brother, Howard Albert Ross who died March 3, 1999. Survivors include his beloved wife of 60 years, Mildree Ross of Elsberry; four daughters: LaVerna Fakes and her husband, David, Brenda Whyte, Suzette Pratt and her husband, Bill, and Rita Motley and her husband, Rodney, all of Elsberry; one son, Chester Ross, Jr. and his wife, Liz, of Phoenix, AZ. He also leaves one sister-in law, Frances Ross; nine grandchildren; four great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, October 18, 2007 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to Star Hope Cemetery or the New Hope Building Fund in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.