James Ross

A light from our family is gone, a voice we loved is still, a place is vacant in our lives, which never can be filled. Your memory is our keepsake, from which we will never part. Heaven has you in its keeping, we have you in our hearts.

The glue of the Ross family, James Lee Ross, 58, of Billings, Montana, passed peacefully in his sleep December 16, 2022, early morning, with a very special blanket he got in Mexico in 1985.

James Lee Ross was born in Denver, Colorado on August 4, 1964.

Growing up, James and his mother, Gloria, bonded playing video games for hours. He never stopped playing all the way through his adulthood. James loved going fishing with his father, Willis, as long as he followed the rules, which in the end was hard. He got into trouble more than he fished.

Two mottos he used all the time were: “You can sleep when you're dead”; and “Sorry, life is not fair.”

As a teen James attended church regularly. He got so fired up for the teens' mission trips he would go on in Florida. James received his first bible when we was 16, on April 24, 1980.

“I give them eternal life and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” -John 10:28

James Lee Ross served in the Marine Corps 1982-1986 as an E3, Lance Corporal. James definitely did and would not stand to be disrespected, but he was pretty fast to put feelings aside for every one of his children. He loved and cared about them deeply. James had such a big heart and loved to give of himself.

James loved to travel when he could. The one place that was on his bucket list was to go to Egypt.

James loved to ride his Goldwing bike any time he could. He would disappear for hours. He would say, “I feel free when I go for rides, but most of all there's nothing better than the wind in my face.” He loved taking his kids on rides to the rims, just anywhere and everywhere.

When it came to barbecuing, it was all about a good burger and good company. Which was always with his closest friends, his kids, and his grandchildren. Anytime there was a get together our dad always had his camera with him. He always took pictures, never was really in the picture and he wouldn't have it any other way. There were some arguments about it but in the end our dad always won. We did sneak some in, but definitely not enough. We will cherish every picture.

James loved taking pictures so much. It was one thing he cherished. (Our dad was not materialistic, but usually everywhere he went, his camera came too). Capturing life through his eyes. He took the most amazing, beautiful pictures of the moon, the stars, the outdoors and documented every moment in his life he could. He always captured the most amazing moments in our lives and his grandchildren's lives, and the ones that didn't get circulated, we will cherish those ones even more. No picture was a bad picture.

Rebekha (his wife) and Jim enjoyed many things together. They loved their vacations to Texas. They even adopted a turtle when they were in Texas and named it Soap Dish. They enjoyed a good movie and snuggles; when it came to music, they were two peas in a pod. They would sit outside for hours getting lost in the stars. Jim was ALL about NASA and learned everything he could. His wife will miss the passion for current events, as well as watching the ancient history channel. But most of all his voice, his laughs, and all the good (ok, really amazing) cooking.

James and one of his best friends, Danny, worked together. They used to get service calls together, but they usually found themselves fishing or hiking. Danny said, “he was a really good friend to have.”

On behalf of the Ross family, our dad was loved deeply and so very much cherished. He had the best of relationships with not only his children (In all different ways) but also with his grandbabies. Dad, the memory of you will live on for generations and generations. We love you and will miss you every day.

James Lee Ross is survived by his father Willis Alton Ross; wife Rebekha Ann (Tirrell) Ross; brothers John Robert Ross, Jack Lavern Ross; sister Janet Renee (Zaccagnini) Ross; his six children from his first marriage (Patricia Nagel): sons Brandon (Jamie) Lee Ross, Aaron Alton Ross; daughters Nina Marie Ross, Sehara Jean Ross; son Christopher William Ross; daughters Alexis Stevie- Chon (Mitchell) Ross,as well as his son-in-law Austin Mitchell, Rowdy Moody; grandchildren Gage Ross, Elise Moody, Kaidan James Sharbono-Ross, Zoe Ross, Emersan Jean Sharbono-Ross, Ezekiel Mitchell; his two best friends Rudy Kuneff, Dan Boyle; and his three fur babies Emmy Lou, Brandy, and Buddy.

James Lee Ross is preceded in death by his mother, Gloria Ann (Urban) Ross.