Jack Haynor "Gramps" Ross

Ross, Jack Haynor Jack Gramps Haynor Ross, 93, of Frontenac, Missouri, died peacefully on Tuesday the 19th of September 2017. He is survived by his wife, the love of his life for sixty-seven years, Martha Marty (Ruddy) Ross; his daughter, Jody Ross and her husband, Steve Woodley; his three grandchildren, Emily Ross Stuart of Chicago, Thomas Ross Woodley and Ellie Stephens Woodley; his sister-in-law, Joanne (Ruddy) Vinyard and her husband Dick Vinyard; his sister-in-law, Marilyn (Ruddy) Dickinson of Houston, Texas; his niece, Anne (Frein) Shilt and her husband, Jeff Shilt; his great nephew, Russell Rusty Shilt; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews as well as many good friends and his last of many pets, a cat named Baby. He is preceded in death by his two sons, John Johnny Haynor Ross (age 39) and Thomas Tommy Brayfield Ross (age 25). Born on St Patrick's Day, 1924, in Royalton, IL, (a town named after his mothers family of Royal), he was the only child of Helen (Brayfield) and Samuel Eddy Ross, Ross (who was born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota). Shortly after Jack was born, his father took a job as one of the first pharmacists with Walgreens in Chicago. This resulted in the family making many moves to Memphis, TN, Dayton, OH, Dallas, TX and Christopher, IL. Eventually, the family moved to Sedalia, MO where Jack graduated from Smith-Cotton High School. He enrolled as a freshman at the University of Missouri, Columbia when he was 17 years old and joined the Sigma Nu Fraternity. At age 18, the bombing of Pearl Harbor prompted him to enlist in the US Army. After surviving a winter in pneumonia gulch at Jefferson Barracks, he began his training as a pilot in California. He served in WWII as a Captain stationed in Italy. Jack flew several planes including the A20, B25 and P47. He completed 43 missions throughout Europe and earned the Presidential Citation as part of a group mission. When the war ended he stayed in Europe and enjoyed many hours of flying in the Army Reserves. Jack lost many close comrades during the dangerous, mostly night missions that he flew. He rarely shared those memories, instead he chose to revel in war stories of excitement and high adventure. After returning from Europe he completed his bachelors degree in Economics and went on to receive a law degree from the University of Missouri. He began his law practice working for Mark Eagleton in St Louis and eventually went into private practice in Clayton, Missouri. During his practice he received an appointment by the Supreme Court to serve on the Advisory Committee of the Mo Bar to investigate complaints of professional misconduct. As an early advocate for the rights of women and minorities, he was a gifted orator and respected litigator for many years until his retirement. Jack loved the mountains of Colorado and enjoyed spending time every summer at Camp Shoshoni, hiking, playing tennis and horseback riding with his family and friends. He and Marty took up snow skiing in their 40's and enjoyed many trips with the St Louis Ski Club. An avid golfer for most of his life, he had consecutive memberships at Westborough, Glen Echo, The Legends, Old Warson and The Everglades of Naples, Fl, where he owned a vacation home. He was involved with many organizations including the Chouteau Lion's Club, the Jungian Society, the Ethical Society of St Louis, and the Educational Center. Puer Aeternus; Forever Young. An unforgettable face with a smile that lit up the room. We are alone, but always together. We are sad, but happy forever. When we glow with life's bright light-when we die with gracious might. (Thomas Woodley) Services: A visitation for friends and family will be held at Old Warson Country Club in St Louis, on Saturday, November 25, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, gifts to honor Jack's life long love of animals, may be made to Stray Rescue of St Louis.