Thomas Macy Ross

July 31, 1948 - May 9, 2026

Thomas “Tom” Macy Ross was born July 31, 1948. The oldest son of his parents, David and Helga. He grew up outside of Detroit, MI for his first nine years before moving to Pittsburgh, PA. He had three younger sisters, Henrietta (Henri), Alice, and Rachel.

Tom was very intelligent, an Eagle Scout, and avid runner. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1966. He moved across the country to Stanford University, graduating in 1970. Tom felt called to ministry and graduated from the San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS) in 1975. He became an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA).

While in the Bay Area Tom met Judi, a woman who had graduated from the same seminary. They married in 1977. Tom and Judi adopted their daughters Elisabeth and Lydia while Tom was serving a three-church circuit in rural Nevada: Wells, Lamoille, and Carlin. Tom and Judi moved to Berkeley, where Tom started a doctorate in ministry at SFTS. At the same time, he worked to distribute the computer software Nota Bene by Dragonfly, an early word processing program. Tom and Judi divorced, leaving Tom with primary custody of his 8- and 6-year-old daughters.

Tom’s best friend and former roommate, Pat Patterson, who was a church choir director in Seattle who introduced Tom to one of his choir members, Sher. A relationship blossomed between Tom and Sher despite it being long distance, and they were married in 1991. Tom and the girls moved to Bothell, WA. Sher at the time owned the Secret Garden Children's Bookshop and Tom worked on Bible translation fonts at Linguist’s Software while also pastoring at Concrete Presbyterian, about two hours north of Seattle.

After Elisabeth’s graduation the family moved north to Acme, WA, and Tom became the pastor at Deming Presbyterian. Tom finished his doctorate in ministry in 2009 from Bakke Graduate University. He loved to learn! Tom and Sher retired to Bellingham, WA.

Tom enjoyed astronomy, learning new languages and knew a lot about a lot of things, including random trivia like; “What state has the longest name?” He loved to serve his church community and was actively involved in several ministry projects through the years, including multiple church mission trips to Mexico.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, David and Helga and his sister, Alice. He is survived by his wife, Sher, daughter Elisabeth and her husband Karl; and daughter Lydia. He also had three grandchildren he dearly loved, Emerald, DJ and Sage. He is also survived by sisters Henri and Rachel, and many other friends and family who loved him.

Tom had a kind and gentle spirit which endeared him to so many. He will be greatly missed!

For those wishing to do so, the family would welcome memorial contributions to Cordata Presbyterian Church (Bellingham, WA) or a charity of your choice.