Rick Ross

Our Dad, Rick Ross, went to heaven Thursday, September 21, 2023, at 1:10 p.m. at St. Vincent’s hospital surrounded by his daughter Leah, son Clayton, & daughter-in-law Melissa. He lived a full life of 73 years surrounded by family, friends, and love. At the young age of 19 he was drafted into the Vietnam War and served his country in the U.S. Army. Once discharged, he became an electrical engineer for Betchel and started 2+ decades of traveling around the world. He met the love of his life, Kathi, on an airplane to Texas in 1977. He was flying home & Kathi was flying to a friend’s wedding. He was dressed in a white leisure suit; he had a deep southern accent & southern manners. Kathi was his California girl & they both knew instantly it was fate. They were married in New Mexico on October 8, 1977. He joined this union with his first-born Richard Shane, born in March of 1972. The new family of three lived in Texas briefly, then off to California where their first child together was born in Fresno, CA, a son, Clayton, in August of 1978. Three years later their final child, Leah, was born in June of 1981 in Fairfield, CA. The family of 5 moved many times, usually every year. From California, Texas, Alabama, Washington, Florida, Oklahoma back and forth and repeat. He spent time working with NASA in Cape Canaveral, FL. In the 90s, he worked in Kuwait after the war for the oil clean up. Then back to California where Kathi, Clayton, & Leah followed him to Jakarta, Indonesia. They lived there a little over a year. Our dad loved to spend time with family, loved fishing, hunting, doing puzzles, playing games, and laughing. He was an excellent electrician and even started his own business in Cookson, Oklahoma. I (Leah) have many memories of him telling me how to change out a ceiling fan or overhead light over the phone. Growing up our dad could do it all, he was our superman. In 2000, he had a heart attack and was diagnosed with diabetes and colon cancer. He survived it all, however it did start the path of declining health related issues from agent orange in Vietnam that he struggled with until the very end. Praise the lord he is in perfect health now. After Our mom passed away in 2016, he moved to Florida to be near his two remaining sisters. His health started to decline and in 2019 he moved to Miles City, MT to live with Leah & her family. Here he enjoyed going to the gun range, going for drives, hunting with his son-in-law Josh, hanging out at shop with Leah, and spending time with two of his grandkids, Adia & Ty, who kept him on his toes and loved pranking each other. He loved going to Breakforth Church on Sundays and was always available to help tote the grandkids around. Although he lived here for a short time, it was spent well. He met many new friends and shared his stories. We shared many holidays and trips to FL, SD, ND, and even Glacier. The time spent here with any of us was precious and he will be missed greatly. A hole has been left in our hearts, but we know him, and our mom are together again in paradise. He read his Bible daily and had a close relationship with his Lord. We find peace in knowing he was ready to go home to his Lord and Kathi and be without pain. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters Brenda and Sue and his wife Kathi. He is survived by his sister Shernell (George) of Florida; his children: Shane (Mary) of Oklahoma, Clayton (Melissa) of Oklahoma, daughter Leah (Josh) of Miles City, MT. Many grandchildren: Brandi & Michelle (FL), Madison Mae (TX) & Madison (OK), Seth & Caleb (OK), Bailey (OK), Adia & Ty (MT); Five great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews that he considered his own children who he loved spending time with and telling all the stories of him and his sisters growing up playing tricks on each other and his many, many cousins. Family was everything to our dad. He loved all of us with his whole heart. He was proud of us, and we will cherish all our time together and all the tools of the trade he taught us all while growing up. Graveside services are scheduled for 11AM Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, OK. Full Military Honors will be observed. The Family of Rick Ross has entrusted his care and graveside service to Clifford D Garrett Family Funeral Home and Crematory, Muskogee. 918-910-8883.

Rick Ross

January 28, 1950 - September 21, 2023