Annie Merle Ross 1902 ~ 2003

A truly loved and noble lady, Annie Merle Massey Ross, age 101, passed away August 31.

She was born Feb. 20, 1902, in Manassa, Colorado, to John D. and Cynthia F. Jarrell Massey.

She moved with her family to the Vernal area and spent her early years in Dry Fork, Utah. She graduated from high school in Vernal as an honor student. Her education continued at the Chautaqua Library School in New York. She was the first Uintah County librarian where she worked for 12 years.

She married John Franklin (Lynn) Ross May 20, 1932, and became an instant mother to E. Floyd and Delmer (Bud). She joined her new family in Arcadia---a farming community. The next 25 years were spent caring for her family, preparing meals for crews of hired men, raising a big garden and supporting Lynn in the managing of their large farm and herd of cattle.

Throughout her life, family and friends benefited from her charity---delicious food, garden produce and a loving, caring heart. Her remedy for loneliness or feeling sorry for herself was to do something for someone else.
Shortly after Lynn's death in 1955, Merle sold the farm and moved to Roosevelt. She retired from J. C. Penny (a store started the same year she was born), worked several years for Neilsen Furniture, and finalized her working years at the Senior Center where she helped prepared food until age 92.

Merle was active in the LDS Church and served as a Primary teacher until her early 90's. She instilled in her young students that they should always be dependable. At her 100th birthday celebration several of these students mentioned how her teachings had been a great influence in their lives. Merle served several stake missions and worked many hours in the Family History Center. She accompanied friends to the Provo Temple for years to do work. Her most cherished church experience was her calling to be a temple worker when she was 94. She served in the Provo Temple until the completion of the Vernal Temple where she continued until she was 99. The Vernal Temple held special memories for her as she was baptized there when it was a tabernacle.

Deseret News
Tuesday, Sept 2, 2003
------------
Auntie Bee' as she is affectionately known, is well loved by all the family.

Son: Lynn Lamar "Pard" Ross

Son-in-law: Tolbert Ray "Toby" Hoover