Maria J. (Chuy) Ross, 73, of House Springs died April 23, 2020, in House Springs. Mrs. Ross graduated from Gadsden High School in Gadsden, N.M., in 1964, and afterward joined the U.S. Army, serving in the medical field as a WAC (Women's Army Corp). She was one of the last surviving WACs in the St Louis area. Later, she enjoyed caring for her children, nieces, nephews and children's friends. In the 1980s, she went back to school to study business and graduated from Jefferson College in 1986 with honors and an associate degree. She was a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Some of the places she worked included the Long Beach Unified School District and L&R Photo.
She loved spending time with her family, friends and family pets. She also enjoyed reading, baking, gardening, singing, watching St Louis Cardinals baseball games and learning new things. She also loved dancing to salsa, cumbia and merengue music, and she often could be found dancing in her kitchen.
Born April 29, 1946 in El Paso, Texas, she was the daughter of the late Silverio and Carolina (Munoz) Gomez.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years: Robert Ross, whom she married March 14, 1967, as well as three children: Gabriela (Daniel) Mangan of House Springs, Marian Ross of High Ridge and William Ross of House Springs; four grandchildren: Carolina Mangan of Fenton, Rebecca Mangan of Fenton, Lianna Mangan of House Springs and Vincent Mangan of House Springs; three siblings: Velia Cardenas of Gilbert, Ariz., Selestino (Esther) Gomez of Cypress, Texas, and Gerry (Rachel) Gomez of Mesquite, N.M.; 22 nieces and nephews; 45 great-nieces and great-nephews; 14 great-great nieces and great-great-nephews, plus another on the way.
She was preceded in death by two siblings: Julio and Carrie Gomez.
Arrangements are under the direction of Chapel Hill Mortuary in Cedar Hill.