St. Clair County Obits

LOTTIE ESTHER HILTY ROSS

Clinton Daily Democrat
18 April 2002
Lottie Esther (Hilty) Ross was born April 28, 1910 to Fred and Hannah (Newenschwander) Hilty, in the Valley Center Community, near Lowry City. She grew up in this rural community, attending the Valley Center School and Church. She graduated from the Lowry City High School and then the Warrensburg Teachers College. After graduation she taught at Hillsdale Elementary School. She also worked as a nurse's aid at the Wetzel Hospital. Lottie married Orville N. Ross in 1936 and except for a brief time in 1936 and 1937 she spent her life in the White Oak area. They bought a farm west of Clinton in 1948 and made this their permanent home. O. N. preceded her in death in 1994 after 57 years of marriage Lottie loved to play the piano and sing and she did so on many occasions. She was a devoted wife and mother to her three children and was there to help and share their life at every opportunity. Lottie had a quick sense of humor and at about 80 years of age, she developed a tinge of jealousy when one day O. N. wanted to stay at their son's house a little longer to watch "Wheel of Fortune". Lottie said, "You just want to see Vanna White. Come on, I will be your Vanna." An on another occasion when one of her sons visited her, she seemed not to recognize him, so he asked, "Mother, do you know who I am?" She said, "If you don't know, go to the front desk, they will tell you." Lottie led a good life and her reward is certainly to be with her husband in the "Mansion on the Hilltop". She left peacefully during her sleep at Westwood Nursing Center on April 7, 2002, and one could almost have heard her say when she arrived, "I have been waiting and am happy to be here." Lottie was a good wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, O. N.; four brothers, Palmer, Wesly, Joe and Ben. She is survived by one daughter, Sharon Gamache and husband Peter, Florence, Colorado; two sons, Paul Ross and wife Georgia, Urich, and Phil Ross of Clinton; one brother, Roy Hilty and wife Alice, Parshall, Colorado, and Ruby Sargent of Kansas City, Kanas, as well as seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Vansant-Mills Chapel on Thursday, April 11, at 2 p.m. with Rev. Hugh Ward officiating. Pallbearers were Stan Hilty, Keith Ross, David Hilty, Craig Ross, Jeff Ross and Richard Shields. Burial was in the Englewood Cemetery, Clinton, under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton.