Mr. Elmer Melvin Ross, age 92, of 125 County Road 7, Fort Payne, AL, died Thursday, May 3, 2007, in a Rome hospital.

Mr. Ross was born in Etowah County, AL, on January 19, 1915, the son of the late James McClellan Ross and Esther Lou Owens Ross. He was a member of Adamsburg Church of God and retired from Lockheed. He lived in Rome for thirty-eight years and then moved to Fort Payne, AL. He loved playing his harmonica, singing, and watching the Atlanta Braves. In addition to his parents Mr. Ross is preceded in death by four brothers, Aubie Ross, Robert Ross, Raymond Ross, and James Ross and four sisters, Gertrude Forester, Estelle Ross, Louise Ross, and Annie Mae Ross Koger.

Mr. Ross is survived by his wife of sixty five years, Mary Ruth Long Ross of Fort Payne, AL; five sons and daughters-in-law, Lamar and Amparo Ross of Orlando, FL, Larry Ross of Mentone, AL, John M. and Patricia Ross of Lindale, GA, Jerry and Kim Ross of Lindale, GA, and Ronnie and Lydia Ross of Rome, GA; a daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Dennis Snyder of Fort Payne, AL; twenty grandchildren; thirty-nine great-grandchildren; and five great-great- grandchildren. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 5, 2007, at 2:00 P.M. CST at Fort Payne Church of God with Rev. Ron Johnson and Rev. Ricky Adams officiating and a son, Lamar Ross giving a eulogy. Mr. Ross will lie-in-state from 12:00 P.M. CST until the funeral hour. Interment will follow in the Adamsburg Cemetery.

Mr. Ross will remain in the Heritage Chapel of the Jennings Funeral Home where the family will receive friends Friday from 6:00 P.M. EST until 8:00 P.M. EST.

The following gentlemen have been asked to serve as active pallbearers and are requested to meet at Fort Payne Church of God by 1:30 P.M. CST on Saturday: David Ross, Dewayne Ross, Jonathan Ross, Jason Ross, Bryce Wood, Jim Chidester, Mark Johnson, and Dennis Pope. Honorary pallbearers will be Levi Wood and Ross Wood.

Please join Mr. Ross's family in honoring his life by visiting www.jenningsfuneralhome.com to post tributes and share memories.

The Heritage Chapel of the Jennings Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements for the funeral of Mr. Elmer Melvin Ross.