Earl’s life began on Oct. 21, 1928, in East St. Louis, Ill., the son of J.E. Ross and Gertie (Dallas) Ross.

Earl, 80, of Dowagiac, was employed by Sundstrand in Dowagiac as a copper tubing loader.

Earl had been a member of the Dowagiac Eagles and Dowagiac Moose lodges.

He was a very active, faith-filled member of Keeler Church of God.

His greatest joy was his family, which includes: his children, Lester (Eva) Ross of Dowagiac, Ray (Debbie) Ross of Elkhart, Ind., Kenneth (Linda) Ross of Cassopolis, Rodger (Melissa) Ross of Dowagiac and Jay Ross of Dowagiac; grandchildren, Jennifer Kiggins, Timothy Raab, Philip Raab, Daniel Ross, Timothy Ross, Cassandra Ross, Jeffery Ross, Tonya Vales, Veronica Dazell, Jesse James and Jay Ross Jr.; several great-grandchildren; and his former spouse, Lula Ross of Elkhart.

Earl passed away at the Cass County Medical Care Facility in Cassopolis on Thursday, July 30, 2009.

He is preceded in death by four sisters and four brothers.

His family will gather with friends on Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. at McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home, where his funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday led by Pastor Boyd Saylor of Keeler Church of God.

He will be laid to rest in Rosewood Cemetery in Malden, Mo., on Tuesday.

Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to the American Cancer Society.

Please sign his guestbook and leave a memory of Earl at www.mclauchlin-clark.com.