Frances Mallery Ross

Frances Ann Mallery Ross, "Fran", passed away peacefully in her home in Bainbridge Island, Washington on July 5, 2021. She was born November 16,1928 to Joseph and Mildred Mallery in Longview, WA. Fran attended schools in Castle Rock, Tacoma and Olympia. In 1942, her father was elected to the Washington State Supreme Court and served from 1942-1962, serving as Chief Justice from 1947-1949 of which she was very proud. Fran graduated from the University of Washington in 1950, where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and met her husband of 56 years, Robert "Bob" (Kuss) Ross. Fran received her teacher certificate in 1951 after cadet teaching for a year at Lincoln High School in Seattle. Married in Olympia in June 1951, Bob and Fran moved to Ellensburg to attend Central Washington University where they earned their master's degrees, then moved to Bainbridge Island where Bob taught high school until 1956. They then moved to West Seattle when Bob went to work for Boeing. Fran worked as a part-time substitute teacher in Seattle until going to work for the City of Seattle in 1969, eventually becoming a Senior Personnel Analyst for Seattle City Light until her retirement in 1989. Bob and Fran had moved back to Bainbridge Island in 1978, where after she retired, she volunteered for many years at the Children's Hospital Bargain Boutique and Senior Center thrift shops. Fran was an avid reader, boater (SEABACS), skier (Skiers, Inc. at Ski Acres) and worldwide traveler; blessed with a lifelong curiosity of all things. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Robert, her brother Colonel Joseph Mallery (Retired, Marine Corps) and son Robert Jr. She is survived by daughters Kris Peterson of Edmonds, Megan Ross of Bainbridge Island, grandson Sean Donovan, granddaughter Brynne Kelly (Pat) and great-grandsons J.T., Brock, Dylan and Gabe, as well as numerous nephews and nieces throughout the Pacific Northwest and California.  A Celebration of Life was held August 7th with family and friends at her beloved beachfront home on Bainbridge Island.

Please share a memory of Fran at Cook Family Funeral Home | Bainbridge Island, WA Funeral Home & Cremation


Arrangements are entrusted to the Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island, WA