Melba “Joan” Ross, age 87, went to be with the Lord on March 07, 2023.

Celebration of Life:  10:00 am, Saturday, March 18, 2023 in Biggers Funeral Chapel, 6100 Azle Ave., Lake Worth, Texas 75135. Her son, Steve Ross will officiate the ceremony.

Joan was born October 7, 1935 in Cross Plains, Texas to James and Robbie Martin. She was married to her high school sweetheart of 61 years, Delton “Brooks” Ross who preceded her in death in 2014. They started their family in Austin, Texas and later moved to Amarillo to raise their three children. She worked as a secretary for the State of Texas and was a member of the National Secretaries Association. An avid artist, she loved all forms of painting and particularly loved watching and painting “her” birds.

Joan and Brooks enjoyed the retired life in Buchanan Dam, Texas where they fished and spent many summers corralling their grandkids and great grandkids at the lake. She continued to paint and joined the Buchanan Arts and Crafts Gallery where she sold artwork and taught painting to youth. Recently, Joan was the self-appointed “Queen Bee” of her assisted living facility in Fort Worth.

Joan had many loves, the first being her relationship with the Lord. She devoted her life to the Lord and was a member of the local Baptist church wherever they lived. Other loves included a good puzzle, the Statler Brothers, Blue Bell ice cream, Elvis Presley, red birds and BINGO with her Bristol Park Family (so long as the prize was Whoppers). She was proud of the faith she instilled in her three children and had peace that they passed their faith on to their families. Joan especially loved being Nanah, Nan and Mom to her kids, grandkids, great grandkids and great great grandkids.

Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Brooks Ross; father, James Martin; mother, Robbie Martin; and her daughter-in-law, Deanna Ross.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan Collier and husband, Garland of Saginaw; her son, Steve Ross and wife, Marjorie of Fort Worth; son, Scott Ross and wife, Starla of Amarillo; her brother, Don Martin and wife, Jay of Houston; several grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and so many friends who were family at Bristol Park.