1/14/1948 – 12/15/2024
Lawrence
Jon Anthony Ross of Lawrence, Kansas died in a nursing home in Rossville, Kansas on December 15th, after a long illness. He was born in Jamestown, Tennessee on January 14, 1948. Jon was not married and had no children. He grew up in Overland Park, KS and spent much of his adult life there.
Jon loved the arts, painting and photography. He was born an artist and pursued painting and photography all his life. He produced about twenty finished paintings of high quality, often painting images originally captured as a photograph. Some of his paintings were displayed in galleries, and some won prizes in judged competitions.
After graduating from high school in 1966, Jon attended Pittsburgh State College in Pittsburgh Kansas, continuing to pursue a fine arts degree. Though he did not graduate with a degree, it was clear that his talent and skills allowed him to continue his dream through his life.
Jon traveled quite a bit on his motorcycles and pickup trucks and worked his way around much of the western US. He even made it to Hawaii and then Washington state where he worked in construction for a while. He worked in Las Vegas as a card dealer at one of the casinos. Later, he lived in Colorado Springs and worked at a golf course, where he played his favorite sport and photographed the beautiful scenery.
For the last decade, Jon focused on photographing mostly wildlife at reservoirs and other places in the countryside. He edited his collection of beautiful, black and white photographs using complex, digital programs, then printed them on a large-scale printer he bought. His showing of these photographs received high praise at his residence in Babcock Place in Lawrence.
Jon is missed by immediate family as well as many members of our extended family.
He leaves behind a sister, Jennifer Howse of Belton, MO, and a brother, Charlie Ross of Lawrence, KS as well as two nieces, Christi Howse Barto of Hamasasa, FL and Catherine Ross Barbosa of Boston, MA, and three nephews, Michael Howse of Rockton, IL, Bradley Howse of Belton, MO, and Patrick Ross of Lawrence KS.
According to Jon’s beliefs and wishes, his body was cremated and ashes returned to us. There will be no church service nor burial.
His ashes will be spread at one or two of places that were loved by Jon, including Clinton Cemetery. In the spring, there may be more such ceremonies and an (anticipated) Celebration of Life open to family and friends.
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