Fern Estelle Ross

Fern Estelle Thomas Ross was born in Phoenix, Arizona on March 7, 1924. She was trained as a registered nurse during World War II. She married Ed Ross in 1947, and they spent the next 68 years together. They had four children who were raised in Phoenix. Fern was a devoted housewife and mother. She loved baseball, particularly the Arizona State University Sun Devils baseball team and later the Diamondbacks. She volunteered extensively in her community and her children’s schools and her church, she was always ready to a lend a helping hand to those in need. She loved gardening, embroidery and sewing. In her later years, she and Ed traveled all across the United States, often with their children and their children’s families, reaching all 50 states. Fern & Ed moved to Tucson in 2010 to be closer to their two daughters. Ed passed away from vascular dementia in 2015. Fern celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sophia Boelender and William Thomas; her brother William Earl Thomas, sister Zona Faye Doran and grandson Steven Ross. She passed away peacefully on March 23, 2026, shortly after celebrating her 102nd birthday with family. She is survived by her four children, six grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren and many nieces, and nephews. Her funeral service will take place on Tuesday March 31st at 10am at Brings Funeral Home. She will be buried alongside her husband at Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Marana.