Barbra Ellen Ross

Barbara Ellen Ross was born on March 14, 1966, in Royal Oak, Michigan. Barbara grew up learning all about her father’s passion for making motorcycles and fast cars. Her adventurous and naughty side was developed from riding her motorcycle and then to her 79 hot rod Mustang. The thrill of adventure and speed stayed sharp throughout her life.  

The theatrical arts were very prominent in Barb's life starting in high school drama and her love to sing. She traveled the country with her father on motorcycle one summer and learned all about different lifestyles and cultures. Because of these life experiences up until that point, she developed a narrative in her head that would later come into play in her writing and storytelling along with helping those who were less fortunate. After graduating high school, she went to New York to attend the Visual Arts for Film Writing and Direction. There she found some incredible people who fueled her passion and dedication to friendships that lived on throughout her life. 

She loved helping people who were not so fortunate from an early age. If you were a bully, you better expect to be punched, she didn’t mess around and maintained her Italian attitude to the core.  She soon found her group of people to defend and heal. Over a 32 year long nursing career she started as a licensed practical nurse in nursing homes then furthered her education to become a registered nurse. When she found an open position for traveling dialysis nursing, she was able to find even more people to spread her strong leadership and love. She found her center, travel and nursing.  Throughout her career, she inspired countless patients to find new reasons to fight for their lives.  

Through Barb’s ups and downs, she found an escape in writing. This led to her publishing her first novel, A Mortal Indiscretion, a vampire love story that spawned into a trilogy, Marzio’s Revenge, and Zeus. Through her writing you could see her passion to live life to the fullest, which led to her novels having sold well in Europe and various parts of the world. Many of her fans would write letters and emails to her, expressing how her words inspired them.  

Barbara’s loving nature changed the lives of so many individuals. One such person by the name of Alvon, who at the time was losing the will to live with kidney failure. Barb taught him to never give up and always fight until you have nothing left.  He was impacted by her care, guidance and that insane Italian attitude that stopped bullies in their tracks, he dubbed her his second mother and began to thrive. He became her son from another mother and brought him into her loving family, showing him, what authentic love is.  

Her first son, Darryl Ross, will continue to honor her by expressing the energy, love, and respect for humanity that she taught him throughout his life. Anthony Ross, her second son, carries her passion for cars and wild rides along with a splash of quirky humor that she distilled into him. Jessica Studabaker, her stepdaughter, was heavily influenced by Barb’s ability to show love and care for others, and she continues to carry that strength into her life by being there for others when they can’t be there for themselves. Natalie Sprouse-Studabaker, her second stepdaughter, was taught strength comes from within, femininity is powerful and does not define you. As well as the profound meaning of what it’s like to be accepted and loved by her stepmother.  

When she was in a place in her life where she began to question her values. The love of her life, Robert Studabaker, showed up. Together they both formed a bond that showed their children what a family is as they reinvented the whole family narrative from that day forward and that it’s okay not to be perfect.  

Even though she succumbed to complications from Lung Cancer, this family will continue to honor the strength and positivity that Barbara E. Ross has taught us. Her presence and all that she brought to this world will forever remain immortal within the energy of life and us.  

A celebration of life will be planned on her 60th birthday on March 14, 2026, location to be determined. More details will be posted on her Facebook and her give-in-kind site. In lieu of flowers (because her loving cats, Zane and JB, like to eat them) we ask that if you find it in your heart to give, you can do so via cashapp to Robert Studabaker to help pay for funeral expenses or to donate to Kent County Animal Shelter in her name.  https://www.kentcountymi.gov/183/Donate