Viola Ross

Viola May 'Ford' Ross, 88, died at a local hospital on Friday, March 29, 2013 after a short illness.

Only the really good people pass away on Good Friday!

Mom was born on Oct. 18, 1924, in Bruneau, to Oscar and Peggy Ford. Grandpa moved the family to Mountain Home in 1926 to pitch for the baseball team.

She was a free spirit as a child. Once her and brother, Harold, hitch-hiked from Mountain Home to Boise when they were very young to see their mother when she was in the hospital.

Mom attended grade school and high school in Mountain Home and graduated from Mountain Home High School in 1942. She always said Mountain Home was a nice place to be from.

Mom married the love of her life, Samuel 'Scott' Ross, on Feb. 14, 1946. Together they raised four children, Charlotte, Jody, Myrna and Chris, and counseled, fed and loved numerous others.

Mom used to say she had a sign on her forehead that said 'Talk to me' because complete strangers would feel the need to tell her their life story! Mom and dad always had a meal, an ear, or a bed to help someone in need.

They were happily married until dad passed away Feb. 28, 1988.

Mom and dad owned the Rose Garden Trailer Court and Elmore Paving and Asphalt in Mountain Home for many years.

From 1972 to 1974, mom was the director of the Mountain Home Senior Citizens Center, during which time she also opened the Glenns Ferry Senior Center. In 1973, she received a Management of Aging Programs certificate from Edmonds Community College.

In 1974, they sold both family businesses and moved to Portland, Ore., where they managed a large all adult apartment complex. Dad was burned in an electrical flash fire and was hospitalized for several months.

Mom and dad moved back to Boise in 1976. She worked for Information and Referral Service, was the coordinator for the Boise Council on Aging and managed the ECHO program for the elderly. She received a certificate of completion on First Line Supervision from the School of Business at Boise State University in 1980.

In 1998, mom became the Director for the Meridian Senior Citizen Center, until she retired at the young age of 80.

Mom loved life and was so very proud of all of her children (especially Myrna), grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved board games, puzzles, Bingo and cheating at cards. She loved playing Sorry with her grandkids and loved winning.... at any cost! Mom couldn't pass up a bargain or a garage sale! She loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and working in her garden.

She had the best laugh and most amazing smile. Mom didn't just smile with her mouth, you could see in her eyes that it came from her heart.

She was an accomplished painter and taught painting classes to seniors in both Mountain Home and Meridian. The last couple of years she felt like she had lost her painting skills..... we disagree, she did in fact paint a 'picture perfect family' for all of us!

Mom was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Peggy Ford, her brother, Hal Ford, and her loving husband and partner, Scott Ross.

She is survived by her three children, Jody (Lee) Ross of Nampa, Myrna (Mike) Harris of Meridian, Chris (Paul) Allred of Boise, eight grandchildren, Mike (Alisa) Janousek of Boise, Amber (Lee) Stigile of Boise, Becky (Dan) Kienitz of Nampa, Tracy Ross of Boise, Callie (Keith) King of Boise, Jake (Joanna) Calhoun of Boise, Jessica (Ken) Darney of Nampa Ryan (Rachel) Ross of Nampa, and 13 great-grandchildren, Karissa, Ashley, Hailee, Rachael, Ryan, Blake, Adaela, Aaron, Aiden, Killian, Jagger, Teagan, Keith, and her beloved bird, Tweety, and numerous friends.

Funeral services will be on Thursday, April 4, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Bowman's Funeral Parlor, 5525 N. Glenwood Street, Garden City, with visitation prior from 1-2 p.m. Burial will follow at Dry Creek Cemetery. Pastor Rick, of Sovereign Grace Church in Nampa, will be officiating. There will be a potluck reception following at the Meridian Senior Center, located in Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park, 1920 N. Records Ave., Meridian, from 4-6 p.m. Please bring a dish to share.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given in mom's name to the Meridian Senior Citizen's Center.

Love You More!