Carolyn Ross

Carolyn Ross was born in Glen Rose, Texas to Zana and Lester Grant Martin, a jubilant couple who saw her birth as a miraculous event. They named her Frances Carolyn.  She thrived in the light of their limitless adoration.  Carolyn managed to surpass even their expectations as she grew into a delightfully outgoing yet selfless, extremely bright yet humble young girl. Very early on she exhibited a great love for music which never diminished.

Carolyn attended Stephens College after high school, but not before beginning a love story with her future husband, Bill Ross. They began their life together following his graduation from Baylor University where he played football and majored in geology. Carolyn loved to tell how she and “Ross” had three baby girls in three different states in their first four years of marriage as he fulfilled his ROTC obligations in the USAF.  She made a home with Ross and their daughters in Tyler where they spent the rest of their almost 70 years of marriage together, madly in love.  She juggled motherhood and an amazingly full volunteer career, yet remained devoted and always smitten-in-love with the most handsome, amazing man she ever met.  Their love story even outshines Carolyn’s many other talents and accomplishments, which were numerous.  She has been referred to as the “president of everything” by close friends, and her enthusiasm for life and work was as great as her genuine love and interest in every person she met. Carolyn and Bill Ross’s shared faith in Christ lead them to minister to others in spiritual and practical ways with a selfless generosity that included opening their hearts and homes to so many. 

A true prayer warrior, Carolyn had an unshakeable trust in God and an intimate devotion to His son, Jesus Christ.  She was as funny as she was fun-loving, counted everyone she knew as a close friend, and she always took time to listen deeply to what others said.  She was devoted to her daughters, and was a mother and grandmother with limitless energy and enthusiasm.  Yet she still was able to make countless others fell like she had counseled, loved, and often lectured them like a parent.

Frances Carolyn Martin Ross will be missed by many, including her daughters and their husbands: Melissa and John Thach, Cindy and Steve Strain, Becky and David Twiss.  She had eight grandchildren: John, Will, and Charlie Thach; Ross and Whit Strain; Bryan and Ben Twiss, and Martin Twiss Hargrove. She delighted in the birth of each grandchild – as would be appropriate since she loved working in her children’s store, GrandChildren, for seventeen years in Bergfeld Center.  Her great-grandchildren are Jack and Evelyn Thach; Scarlett, Will and Griffin Thach; Austin and Alex Strain; Margot Twiss; and Scottie and Hedge Hargrove.

A memorial service will be held in the church Carolyn loved, Marvin United Methodist Church, on August 8 at 2:00 pm. If you would like to make a memorial donation in her name, in addition to her church Carolyn also loved the work that YWAM does, and she spent many years involved with Bible Study Fellowship and its leadership.