Phyllis Ross

PRINCETON — Phyllis A. Ross, 97, of Princeton died Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, at Liberty Village in Princeton.

Born July 30, 1916, in Grundy Center, Iowa, the daughter of Roscoe and Vera (Clinite) Long, she married the Rev. Raymond E. Ross Feb. 5, 1940, in Taunay, Mato Grosso, Brazil, South America. He preceded her in death on Feb. 2, 1999.

She was a Grundy Center High School graduate and she graduated from the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. She retired from the South American Indian Mission having worked with the Terena Indians of Brazil, South America, and was a homemaker. She was a teacher for the Child Evangelism Fellowship and Kids Klub.

She was a Princeton Bible Church charter member and a South America Mission member for 75 years. She was also a member of the Sharps and Flats Kitchen Band, the Camera Club and Moody Alumni.

Surviving are three daughters, Beverlia (Clark Jr.) Larson of Princeton, Norma (Dale) Kirby of Palatine and Elizabeth Jane (Roger) Young of Grand Rapids, Mich.; nine grandchildren, Susan (Dwayne) Beggs of Findlay, Ohio, Daniel (Kelli) Larson of Normal, Virginia (Chad) Byers of Carmel, Ind., Sean Kirby of Rockford, Christie (Todd) Hulst of Michigan, Michele (Todd) Mizer of Michigan, Scott Young of Michigan, Phillip (Sarah) Ross of Pennsylvania and Priscilla (Tony) DeJesus of Florida; one stepgrandchild, Gina Deitz of North Carolina; 14 great-grandchildren, Nicholas Larson, Alyssa Bennett, Kara Larson, Brent Beggs, Brigette Beggs, Madison, Katelyn, Kyle and Will Byers,  Greyson and Anden Ross, Jason DeJesus, and Macy and Beckett Hulst; three stepgreat-granddaughters, Danyn, Brie and Luci; one brother, Homer A. Long of Grundy Center, Iowa; one sister, Carolyn N. (Eldon) Mann of Marshalltown, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; one son, Charles E. Ross; one great-grandchild, Gabriel DeJesus; and two brothers, Lt. Thomas L. Long and Carey S. Long.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Princeton Bible Church with the Rev. Ken Wilson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Limerick Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to South America Mission Ammi Training Center for Indians in Brazil.

Arrangements were completed by the Garland Funeral Home in Walnut.