M. Ross Obituary

AUBURN < M. Elizabeth Coons Ross, 84, of West Lake Road, Auburn, died unexpectedly Monday, April 17, 2006, at University Hospital in Syracuse. Mrs. Ross was born in Montezuma, the daughter of the late Harold L. and Martha Burlingame Coons, and resided in the Town of Fleming for most of her life. She was a graduate of the Auburn City Hospital School of Nursing Class of 1943. She received her commission as a first lieutenant in the Army Nursing Corps, and was stationed in England for two years during World War II. Following World War II, Mrs. Ross was employed as a registered nurse with Auburn Memorial Hospital for several years, and was employed by the Cayuga County Health Department as a public health nurse. In 1967, she received her B.S. degree from Syracuse University and was awarded her teaching certificate from SUNY Cortland. She served as a teaching school nurse for the Port Byron School District, and was employed as a public health nurse supervisor for the Cortland County Health Department prior to her retirement. In addition, she and her late husband, Charles, owned and operated a poultry farm in Fleming for many years. Mrs. Ross also was active in her community. She was a member of the Owasco Valley DAR, a former member and past matron of the Dewitt Clinton Chapter OES of Aurora. She also served as grand matron for the New York State Order of Eastern Star. Mrs. Ross served on the Town of Fleming Town Council for several years. She was active in the country and state GOP politics. She served on the Fleming Town Republican Committee, the Cayuga County Republican Committee and served as a New York State Republican committee woman for many years. She also was a member of the Cayuga County Women"s Republican Club. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Auburn. Surviving is one daughter, Susan E. Hilton and her husband, Glenn, of Auburn; two sons, Douglas F. Ross of Auburn and David C. Ross and his wife, Robin, of Auburn; two brothers, Glen M. Coons and his wife, Lori, of Westminster, Calif., and Robert L. Coons of Laguna Nigel, Calif.; one sister, Isabel Moore and her husband, Thomas, of Beaverton, Ore.; three grandchildren, Timothy A. Hilton of Auburn, Lindsay A. Hilton of Auburn and Michael C. Sherman of Elbridge; one great-grandchild, Christian A. Hilton of Auburn; several nieces and nephews. A daughter, Sarah J. Ross, who died in 1952, and her husband, Charles E. Ross, who died in 1986, predeceased Mrs. Ross. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Friday, April 21, in Bradley Chapel, Fort Street, Auburn, with the Rev. Leroy Kettinger, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Auburn, officiating. Interment will be in Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn. Friends are invited to call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at the Mosher & Neagle Funeral Home, 48 South St., Auburn. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Fleming Ambulance No. 1, PO Box 595, Auburn, NY 13021, in memory of M. Elizabeth C. Ross.