Helen Ross

Helen Ross, 94, passed away Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, at Greenfield Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Greenfield. Open visitation will be 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, at Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield. A private family burial at a later date.

Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Memorials may be directed to Helen Ross Memorial Fund to be established by the family.

Helen Irene Ross was born Feb. 26, 1926, the daughter of Everett Harrison and Nellie Margret (Hofmann) McClain in Orient. She was raised in Adair County and graduated from Orient Consolidated School GED Certificate in 1972.

On Aug. 15, 1940, she was united in marriage to Warren Ross in Maryville, Missouri. To this union two children were born: Kathryn and Ronald. She lived her whole life in Orient Township, Adair County. She was a very dedicated housewife and farmer.

Helen worked for Kelly’s Flowers for several years, where she really enjoyed creating beautiful floral bouquets, corsages and arrangements for every special occasion. There was a job opening at Orient-Macksburg Community School and this would be much closer to home for winter driving, so she took the job and managed the student lunch program payments and tickets. She helped in the office and wherever needed. Her “favorite job” was high school study hall monitor. She had a great relationship with the students, trying to instill in them the need to sit still, pay attention and do their homework. This was a challenge and even her grandsons might have got their ears pulled if they didn’t get the message!

Helen enjoyed traveling, playing cards, gardening and flowers, especially her beautiful rose gardens. A project that was near and dear to grandma’s heart was the Orient meal site. She really enjoyed serving and visiting with her friends and neighbors.

She liked to cook and was always ready to furnish for church lunches, fundraisers and Lions club events. But best of all, Helen being an excellent cook, her kids and grandkids loved birthdays, holidays and just any Sunday family dinners with grandma’s delicious cooking and hospitality.

She is survived by her two children, Kathryn Gross (Larry) of Fontanelle and Ronald Ross (Shirley) of Orient; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; brother Larry McClain (Amber) of Adair; sister-in-law Cora McClain of Ankeny; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Warren in 2007; brother Lewis McClain; niece Linda Patterson; nephew Patrick McClain.