Just before sunrise, on June 12, 2008, Felice Rita Martin Ross went to be with her Lord and Savior. She had been resting peacefully in her bed, surrounded and embraced by her family-- her husband of fifty-nine years and her four children.
Born into this world on August 4, 1928, in Franklin, Louisiana, Felice was raised, with her two sisters and brother, by their parents, Bill and Lillian Martin, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Felice returned to Louisiana and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages from Louisiana State University at the age of nineteen. At L.S.U., Felice met her husband, Bill Ross, whom she married on July 2, 1949. In Baton Rouge, where they began their life together, God gave Felice and Bill three children—Erin, Michael, and Rory.
Between 1956 and 1963, the Rosses traveled the world extensively, holding residence in Sumatra, Indonesia, and Palma Sola, Venezuela. In 1963, Felice and Bill settled their family in Beaumont, Texas, where they were blessed with their fourth child, John. In Beaumont, Felice continued to serve her family, church and community for many years.
Felice will be remembered for her selfless devotion to her family, her larger-than-life personality, and her willingness to serve others. Felice’s strength and courage was matched only by her extraordinary grace and striking beauty.
Felice is survived by her husband, Bill, of Beaumont; her daughter, Erin and her husband Joe McReynolds, of Alvin; her sons, Michael, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Rory and his wife Robin, of Carrollton, and John and his wife Stephanie, of Beaumont. Felice is also survived by her sister, Dahleen Bache, of Pass-a-Grille, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Felice will be forever loved and cherished by all who knew her, especially her grandchildren, Amy, Joseph, Kelsey, Erin, Grace and Lillian.
A Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 16, 2008 at St. Anne Catholic Church under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. A reception for family and friends will follow the mass at St. Anne Parish Hall.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Anne Catholic School Building Fund, 375 N 11th Street, Beaumont, Texas 77702.
SUNRISE
One morning I sat by my window
And watched with great delight,
The gay change time was making,
With day taking over the night.
At first appeared only pale colors
Slowly, as though they were shy,
And then, as they gathered their
courage,
They deepened and covered the sky.
The flowers and birds were smiling,
The world held high her proud head.
Yes, the day had finally awakened
And the night had gone off to bed.
Felice Martin and Elsa Rodriquez
1944
"Now this is eternal life...."John 17:3
