Josephine Brown Ross

Josephine Brown Ross, beloved mother, grandmother and friend, was taken to Heaven on May 8, 2006 following a traffic accident. She was 84. Jo was born on January 1, 1922. She was a lifelong Austinite with the exception of three years in Los Angeles at the beginning of her marriage. She is survived by her daughters Jeanne Kittredge and husband Norman and Marilyn Ross and husband Tom Hoeffner; grandchildren, Kevin Kittredge and wife Lori, Kimberly Yandell and husband Randy, and Christopher Hoeffner-Ross; great-grandchildren Katie and Karoline Kittredge and Shauna Yandell; and numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends. She was proceeded in death by her parents, Charlie and Josephine Brown, her sisters Mary Fox, Norine McCoy, and Emma Burch and her beloved husband of 61 years, Bill Ross. Jo graduated from Austin High School and Durham Business College. She had several careers during her lifetime. She worked for the Austin American Statesman, The Dallas Morning News, taught private piano and accordion lessons, serving two terms as president of the Austin District Music Teacher’s Association, and worked for 20 years at IRS in Taxpayer Services, retiring as manager of Taxpayer Contact and the Technical Units after receiving outstanding service awards. While there, she was the most asked for person in the Taxpayer Contact Unit, because her name, being short, was signed to all outgoing correspondence for the entire region. In the last two years, she came out of retirement to work seasonally for H & R Block, and this year received their award of excellence for outstanding service. She also served as a precinct judge for elections. Jo accepted Christ as her savior at age 14. From this time on, her faith became the mainstay in her life, carrying her through all her life experiences. Her life, in everything that she did, showed a clear reflection of that belief. Over the years, she served God in East Avenue Baptist Church, where she was church secretary and pianist, Windsor Park Baptist Church, Parmer Lane Baptist Church, and Hillcrest Baptist Church. She was a long-time Sunday School teacher and class pianist for the churches where she worshipped. She enjoyed singing in the senior adult choir at Hillcrest. More than that, though, she made sure that every thing she did, she did for the Lord. An active genealogist, Jo compiled books recording the family history. She was meticulous in researching facts and making certain of their accuracy. She was a member of the Austin Genealogical Society, the National Society of Colonial Dames, and the Daughters of the American Revolution, in which she served for many years as treasurer of the Austin Colony Chapter. Jo met the love of her life, Bill Ross, at age 14. Bill had first gotten a glimpse of Jo as he went by her house, and knew immediately that she was the girl he was going to marry. It wasn’t long before Jo felt the same way about him. They were married on November 2, 1941 in Los Angeles, California. Three years later, she returned to Texas when Bill entered military service and she was awaiting the birth of their first child. After Bill returned from serving in WWII, he became increasingly disabled. Jo, whose own pronouncement was that she had always wanted to be solely someone’s wife and mother, fulfilled those roles beautifully while simultaneously taking on more responsibilities in the workforce. She became a role model of grace and poise while juggling an enormous number of things and never dropping a single one. She was fun-loving and enjoyed traveling and being spontaneous. Jo was caring and interested in the lives of others, and always had time to keep up with those she knew. She was mentor to numerous people whose lives she touched. At the end of Bill’s life, Jo cared for him at home, severely curtailing her usual activities to be with him. After his death she mourned him deeply while she jumped back into the things she enjoyed. She was totally devoted to her family, ecstatically proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At the time of her death, she was doing what she loved best: being with friends, spending the morning in church, and doing things for her beloved grandson, Christopher. The unexpected loss of someone so dear has left an enormous hole in the hearts of Jo’s loved ones. At the same time, the example of her life shows us how to come to peace with her death. The family wishes to thank the first responders at the accident scene and the wonderful doctors, nurses and social worker at Brackenridge Hospital who worked valiantly to save her and showed the family much kindness. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, May 10, 2006, at Weed Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Services to be held at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at Hillcrest Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Austin Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to Hillcrest Baptist Church or Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com