John R Ross

My Dad, John R Ross, finally got to meet his Jesus face to face on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. His passing was very peaceful in our home with my husband Greg, our daughter Ashley and me by his side. Daddy had been on hospice care for several weeks due to congestive heart failure and serious swallowing issues. When I say he was ready to go home to heaven, I mean he was ready. He is now able to eat and ride his bike again.

Daddy was born in Spiro, Oklahoma to Othie and John Ross on May 17, 1933. He was raised in Alma, Arkansas where he graduated high school then headed to the Army. He served in the Army for three years with part of his time in Germany. After he got out of the Army, he went to Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, TN where he received a degree in religion. He met my Momma on a blind date when he was at university and she was in high school. He agreed to go on the blind date "as long as he got the prettiest girl" and as he always said with a smile, "I did". The poor guy had no chance and they married right after she graduated from high school at 18 in 1958. They were married nearly 65 years. Daddy took SUCH good care of Momma up until her passing. They had two daughters: me, Lisa Ross Ivins (Greg) and my sister, Krista Ross Smith (Paul). They have one granddaughter, Ashley Renee Ivins (Isabel and children Ashley, Benjamin and Giancarlo Cuevas ), who he always referred to as "the best granddaughter in the universe".

My parents first lived in Knoxville, Tennessee where they were members of Meridian Baptist Church. He was a member of the Army National Guard while living in Knoxville. They moved to Paducah, Kentucky in 1986 where they joined Lone Oak Baptist Church and had a wonderful community of friends. Dad joined the Naval Reserves after moving to Paducah. After Mom and Dad retired, they traveled the country in their camper working at Yellowstone National Park one summer and spent many months volunteering at Hunting Island South Carolina State Park. They moved back to Knoxville in 2019. They joined Central Bearden Baptist Church and Dad found good friends and community there.

You didn't spend much time with Dad before you realized how important Jesus was to him. One thing a lot of people didn't know about Daddy was his gift of writing poetry. This is one of my favorites:


WHEN JESUS CALLS MY NAME

On that resurrection morning
When to the empty tomb Mary came,
She thought all was lost until
She heard Jesus call her name.

I was lost in a world
Of sin, darkness and shame,
Not knowing where to turn,
When I heard Jesus call my name.

"Will you be My child
And My Gospel proclaim?"
"Yes, I will.
I hear You Jesus, calling my name."

My life I'll live for my Savior
Who sets my soul aflame.
Because when I need Him most,
I hear Jesus call my name.

Some day I will leave this world
Of sin, sorrow, and shame,
When my time on earth is ended
And Jesus calls my name.

On that Great Judgement Day when God asks,
"For whose sins does My Son take the blame?"
My heart will flood with grateful joy
When Jesus calls my name.


My Dad had a true servant's heart. My earliest memories were picking up hitchhikers, buying them food and telling them about Jesus (until Momma found out we were in the car at the time). He took care of neighbors, friends, strangers and anyone in has path that needed a helping hand. He also volunteered at Western Baptist Hospital and at the Quilt Museum in Paducah.

Besides the others mentioned, he leaves behind Aunt Marjorie Ogle (whom he dearly loved), sisters Geraldine "Sis" Holt (James) and Ann Bahil (Bob), Dave Ivins, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to Momma and his parents, he was greeted in heaven by his sisters – Dorothy Broadnax, Lee Chadwick, Betty Jeannie Lovett (Bill) and Bobby Lou Baker (Jerry).

Daddy – Krista, Ashley, Greg, and I love you so much and will miss you terribly as will countless others. I am so thankful for the hope of Heaven and I know I will see you on the other side.

The family would like to thank the Covenant Health Hospice team (especially Beth and Ryshira) and Tracey and Miss G with Always Best Care. All of you were a blessing to Dad and us!

Dad will have a military service at a later date.