Mary Ross

Mrs. Mary Ross, age 80, of the Flat Creek Community of Maury County, where she has lived the last 45 years and the place she called home, died Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at her home in the Flat Creek Community.  She was born in Ithaca, Michigan and was a daughter of the late Gerald Arthur and Wilhelmina Wurtz Pease.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Herbert Ashel Downs, her late husband and the love of her life, Bobby Dean Ross, a son, Russell Ross, and a brother, Robert Joseph Pease.

Mrs. Ross retired in 2001 from the State of Tennessee, Department of Corrections where she worked as a secretary.  Following her retirement, she was able to enjoy, to the fullest, her hobbies of golf, skeet shooting, hunting, fishing, camping and dancing.  She also became more involved in her love of breeding and showing Yorkshire Terrier dogs, for which she was awarded many championships over the years.  Mrs. Ross was a member of the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, the Maury County Kennel Club and was a member of the United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Ross is survived by her children, Mary Elizabeth Downs Dorton and husband, Calhoun City, MS, Christopher Michael Downs, Brevard, NC, William Eugene Downs, Lobelville, TN, Jamie Katherine Nicholson, and her father, James R. Nicholson, both of Mineola, TX, Rena Billington, and husband, Lyons, KS, Roma Brown and husband, Lyons, KS, Raymond Ross and wife, Choctaw, OK; sister, Lucile Ann Pease Lowery and husband, San Diego, CA; brother, John Arthur Pease, Escanaba, MI; thirteen grandchildren and twenty one great grandchildren.

Family members will receive friends on Sunday, March 12, 2017 from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. at Lawrence Funeral Home.  Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday from the chapel of Lawrence Funeral Home with Rev. George Grant officiating.

Memorial donations may be made to the Columbia State Community College, Vet Tech Program, 1668 Hampshire Pike, Columbia, TN  38401.

LAWRENCE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, Chapel Hill, TN, 931-364-2233   in charge of arrangements.  (www.lawrencefuneral.net)