This overview of my dad's life and family was shared at his Memorial Service on February 15, 2014. He was almost 94 when he passed away quickly. He will be missed.

1. RAYMOND FRANCIS ROSS
May 20, 1920 – February 3, 2014
A LOVING
TRIBUTE:
His Life & Family
Prepared with Love by Patti Ross

2. Raymond was born in Chicago on May 20, 1920,
to Oscar & Carolyn Ross
Raymond, 1921

3. Raymond as a little boy!

4. Raymond a bit older
Ray Skated
and
Wrestled
as a Boy

5. Ray started his service at Lloyd School where he
was Class Monitor, even won an award!
His community service continued in high school
and then when he joined the military and later held
office on Lutheran Church Council.

6. Raymond was the oldest of five siblings
Dad, Ray, Shirley, Marie,
Jeannie & Mom
Brother Harold
died in infancy

7. About 1948: Ray & Dorothy with Marie, Mom & Dad, Bill & Shirley, Jean
in the middle with Margie, Dorothy holding Nancy, Shirley holding Billy

8. Ray Graduated Steinmetz High School in 1938.
One of his favorite memories was seeing Dorothy
across the crowded cafeteria—and knowing she was the one!
It was
LOVE
at first sight!

9. WEDDING DAY: June 7, 1941
Mr. & Mrs. Ray Ross

10. Ray served in the U. S. Marine Corp,
Platoon 698 from 1944 to 1946. He was on
the beaches of Iwo Jima on February 23,
1945 when the flag was raised on higher
ground. He also spent time in Guam.
His family is proud of his
service!

11. Although Ray was off
at war,
love survives!

12. Ray & Dorothy had five
children, all girls!
1955
About 1960

13. Ray mowing the lawn
on Newcastle Ave.
In 1961, Ray & Dorothy left Newcastle Ave.
to move the family to Temple City, CA.

14. Margaret, their eldest daughter, had
recently married so stayed in Chicago.
Oscar & Carolyn Ross
Kitty Birkemoe
IT WAS HARD TO SAY
GOODBYE TO PARENTS

15. ROSS Family Portrait Not Long After Moving to California

16. RAY WENT A BIT NATIVE WHEN FIRST LIVING IN CALIFORNIA—
CREW CUT AT FIRST AND SHIRTLESS IN THE BACK YARD!

17. RAYMOND & HIS SIBLINGS
UNCLE BILL
VISITNG IN 1991
SHIRLEY’S WEDDING:
Ray, Shirley, Bill & Marie
VISITING MARIE & HER
SON: Years Later

18. RAY WITH HIS YOUNGEST & SURVIVING SISTER JEAN
Together after their Dad’s Funeral, June 1992
1942

19. RAY’S PARENTS LIVED NEAR BY IN TEMPLE CITY FOR MANY
YEARS, AND THEN AFTER HIS MOM’S DEATH, HIS DAD LIVED
WITH RAY & DOROTHY FOR A TIME AS WELL.

20. RAY SHOWED HIS
PATRIOTISM BY
SERVING IN THE
MILIRARY, FLYING
THE FLAG, VOTING,
AND SHARING HIS
VIEWS THROUGH
MANY LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR

21. Ray & Dorothy Over the Years

22. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!”
“We’ll still celebrate for you each year
with cake and ice cream.
Okay, chocolate and apple pie too!”

24. SOME ANNIVERSARIES
Two 50th Anniversary Celebrations
25th Anniversary
Around 70th Anniversary

25. A FAVORITE ACTIVITY, BUT DAD CLAIMS IT IS THE CHAIR!

26. RAY LOVED HIS WORK AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, TAKING
PHOTOS AT WEDDINGS AND FOR SCHOOLS & GROUPS
An Early Selfie!

27. BUT RAY’S REAL PASSION WAS FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Whether at home, at the Arboretum, in Texas,
Oregon, Hawaii or Alaska, Dad always had his
camera with him!

28. SOME OF DAD’S NATURE PHOTOGRAPHS

29. WINNER!
Ray’s Rose Picture “The Art of God”
was published as part of an
International Photography Contest
Ray’s Kite Picture of Mom won a
Community Photography Contest & is on
display at the Live Oak Park Building.
Other work is on display at Eaton Canyon.

30. I FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE TAKEN MANY
NATURE PHOTO TRIPS WITH DAD!
Big Sur
Salton Sea
Whale Watching,
Ventura
CA Poppy Preserve
And Many More Places!
Many Zoos

31. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
DAD PATIENTLY PUT THE LIGHTS ON
THE CHRISTMAS TREE, GETTING
THEM ON JUST SO!
“A fun tradition
as a kid was
tagging along to
buy the tree!”

32. No matter where
they are,
if Mom & Dad are
there, it feels like
HOME!
Chocolate always helps
“A house is made of walls and
beams. A home is built with
love and dreams.” Proverb

33. ROSS FAMILY OVER THE YEARS

34. ALL THE GRANDCHILDREN
Except Jason,
the youngest,
had not been
born yet!

35. 50th Anniversary Celebration, 1991
But I bet Kurt is asking, “Are we having fun yet?!”
In these , Kurt, the oldest
grandchild, is missing

36. GRANDPA WITH HIS GRANDCHILDREN WHEN THEY
WERE YOUNGER—THEY’RE ALL GROWN UP NOW
Kevin
Peter
Lisa
Jason
Paul
Kurt
Kacy
Jimmy
Michelle

37. RAY’S GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
Paul
Mila
Phillip
Logan
Ledger
Benjamin
Josie

38. Ray did not get a chance to hold his newest great grandchildren, but he did
enjoy hearing about them being healthy and happy. A few days before his
death, he enjoyed these pictures of the newest members of the family.
Roland Thunder Curtis, about 9 months
Cassidy Rose Curtis, about 1 week

39. DAD WAS ALWAYS ONE TO TEASE & JOKE. . . & TOLERATE
POSING FOR SILLY PICTURES
“Who’s
that
handsome
guy?”

40. DISTANT RELATIVES ARE ALWAYS
CLOSE AT HEART
Robert, Ray’s Godson

42. GOOD FRIENDS ARE
ALWAYS TREASURED

43. PATTI

44. FOR THE LAST YEAR OR
SO DAD & I
VISITED EVERY
SATURDAY
He enjoyed eating chili and
apple pie at Marie Callenders

45. BARBARA
&
FAMILY

46. BARBARA & FAMILY

47. MARY & FAMILY

48. MARY & FAMILY

49. NANCY & FAMILY

50. NANCY & FAMILY

51. MARGIE
&
FAMILY

52. MARGIE & FAMILY

53. SAYING GOODBYE
Ray had a chance to visit Dorothy
the day before she passed.
Ray, Barbara & Dorothy
November 3, 2012

54. A VISIT TO BRING FLOWERS TO MOM’S GRAVE
“Mom was there in spirit!”

55. CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE 2013
Ray Enjoyed the Visitors & the Goodies!

56. MOSTLY
OPEN
HOUSE
PHOTOS
2013
Mary sent a Christmas Message!

58. “Those who have never known
the deep intimacy
and the intense companionship
of happy mutual love have
missed the best thing
that life has to give.”
Bertrand Russell

59. H

60. THEIR LOVE WILL CONTINUE FOREVER

61. Sunrise, sunset,
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness - and - tears.
Jerry Bock

62. RAYMOND FRANCIS ROSS
Father & Brother
Husband & Father
Provider
Photographer
Good Friend & Neighbor
Grandfather
Great Grandfather
Raymond, you are loved and will be missed—thanks
for all the love and concern you have given us over the
years!