Helen Joan Brown Ross Self

Helen Joan Brown Ross Self, age 96 of Bryan, Texas went to be with our Lord on December 19, 2016. She was attended to at the time of her death by her loving son Dick Ross of Waco, Texas, her “favorite” daughter Peggy Ross (a joke they shared as Peggy was her only daughter) and the caring staff of the Isle at Watercrest in Bryan, Texas. She is survived by her son Dick Ross, and her daughter Peggy Ross. Her grandchildren Michael & Tanya Ross, Whitney Ross, Eric Dane & Krista Wolff, and Daniel & Alexandra Salas. Great grandchildren Torin Wolff, Sterling Ross, Trent Ross, Kelsey Peterson, Baily Peterson, baby to be William Salas, Anastasia Wormley, David Rodriquez, and Isabella Rodriquez, as well as three great great grandchildren; Jaice Bennett, Jaiden Bennett, and Braxton Peterson.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents Michael and Nellie Brown, her younger twin sisters Kelly Pointek and Peggy Crawley, her first husband William ‘Bill’ Ross III, her second husband Robert D. Self, and her son William M Ross IV.

Helen was born on February 16, 1921 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania to Michael Aloysius Brown and Nellie Flaherty Brown. She married her first husband, William ‘Bill’ Ross on May, 25th 1946 in Tokyo, Japan. Helen was an army nurse and Bill was a Army Alamo Scout. She graduated from a nursing school at Mercy Hospital, New York, New York in 1940. She had to wait one year until she was 21 to take the state board exam. She then joined the Army Nursing Corp in 1942. After the war they moved to San Antonio, Texas. Shortly after they moved to Bryan, Texas where Helen worked as the school nurse at Allen Military Academy from 1951-1971. In 1972 she went to work at Bryan Hospital and retired from Humana Hospital in 1985. She served as secretary at the Bryan Senior Center for several years. She also delivered Sunday communion to Sherwood Nursing home and had the longest record (at the time) of her vigil at the at St. Joseph Church hourly vigil. Her favorite hobby was fishing. She was happiest reeling in a big fish. She also enjoyed floating and jumping the waves at Matagorda, Texas. When Helen wasn’t outside you would find her at the bridge table.

She requested to be cremated and her Memorial will be held 10:00 AM Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan. The family offers special Thanks to the staff at the Isle at Watercrest, Encompass Hospice, and Memorial Funeral Chapel.

Poem for the Living:

When I am dead, Cry for me a little. Think of me sometimes, But not too much.