Bert Ross

Bert James ‘Smokey’ Ross Sr. of Rockland County, NY moved on from this earthly realm to the next on April 21st, 2020 due to heart failure at the age of 82. Bert was a resident of Rockland County for more than 30 years, and also resided in Fayetteville, GA and Las Vegas, NV.

Bert was born on January 29th, 1938 in Denmark, South Carolina, the son of Dalzya Ross and Quillie Lee Ross.

Bert grew up on the lower East Side of Manhattan and was enrolled in the NY City Public Schools. He later received his Associate of Applied Science Degree from Rockland Community College. He served in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1963 as an aircraft mechanic at the Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, receiving an honorable discharge.

From 1967, Bert found employment at the NY State Department of Corrections and after 30 years of service, retired as a Superintendent of Corrections in October of 1997. Throughout his life, he was known for his plethora of hobbies, interests, and side professions; finding satisfaction in auto-mechanics and home improvement, taking pleasure in fishing and hunting, seeking knowledge through travel and study of historic cultures, and gaining additional work experience as a real estate agent and freelance photographer.

Bert was a member of the Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Tappan Zee Lodge No. 79 Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York.

He is predeceased by his elder sister, Anna Ploughman, and both of his parents. He is survived by his eldest son, Floyd Ross of Nashville, TN; eldest daughter, Theresa Ross Moseley of Nashville, TN; youngest daughter, Barbara Ross Miller, of Pomona, NY; and youngest son, Bert Ross Jr. of Spring Valley, NY. Additionally, he is survived by his grandchildren, Kaseem (Tamara) Brown, Kamesha (Arthur) Milton, Carlton (Eboni) Moseley Jr., Telisia Moseley, Terri Lynn Moseley, and Ross Jwuan Miller, as well as 7 great-grandchildren.