Phyllis ROSS

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ROSS: On Friday, January 29, 2009, Phyllis Ross passed away in Bayside Personal Care Home, Killarney, Manitoba at the age of 96 years. Phyllis was born on May 2, 1912 in Minnewakan, Manitoba to Phillip and Kate Bayley. It was there she spent her early childhood, moving to Winnipeg to receive her senior schooling. As a young adult, Phyllis remained in Winnipeg working at Eaton’s in the jewelry department where she later became manager. It was in Winnipeg that she met and married Don Ross in October of 1939. They had two children, Don in 1941 and Karen in 1943. Don and Phyllis shared a dream of creating a summer camp from the ground up. They chose a property on the south shore of Pelican Lake, which became Pleasant Valley. Together they built a store and several cottages. These were rented to fishermen and families wishing for a holiday on the lake. During the children’s school years, winters were spent in Belmont. It was during these winters, they taught square dancing to the young and old. They began by teaching the United Church young peoples group, then formed their own club. After working hard for several years, Don & Phyllis sold Pleasant Valley to Mel Hall, ending up in Ninette in 1966. There they managed a resort on the north shore of Pelican Lake, just outside of Ninette.In October of 1969, Don passed away. Phyllis moved out to Vancouver and travelled extensively across Canada, the United States, & Europe. Her favourite destinations were Hawaii and Rome. She loved living at the coast but eventually moved back to Manitoba and settled in Cartwright. She later moved on to Brandon to reside at the Winnipeg House senior’s complex. There she was quite involved in the life of the apartment block, leading the daily walking/coffee group on their trek to Eaton’s, and writing a column for the Brandon Sun reporting on life at Winnipeg house. She shared a love for bridge and puzzles with many of the residents there. She also continued traveling while living in Brandon.Phyllis’ interests were many and varied. She stayed on top of politics and current events around the world, and enjoyed a wide variety of music. She spent a lot of time learning about herbs and natural healing. When her health began to fail, she moved to Bayside Personal Care Home in Killarney, residing there from 1994 until the time of her passing. She was a much loved resident and is fondly remembered and sadly missed by the staff at the facility. She is predeceased by her parents, Phillip and Kate, Step-father Pete, brothers Vic, Ken and Stan, and husband Don. Her legacy lives on in the hearts and lives of her children Don Ross and wife Sandra, Karen Cummings and husband Jim, her five grandchildren, and her 14 great grandchildren. The funeral service was held on Friday February 6, 2009 at Knox United Church in Belmont with Marianne Olfrey officiating. Interment followed in the Hillside Cemetery, Belmont. Memoriams may be made in Phyllis’s memory to a charity of choice. Jamieson’s Funeral Services of Glenboro were in charge of arrangements.

As published in Brandon Sun on Feb 14, 2009