Ernest "Sonny" Elbert Ross

Ernest Elbert “Sonny” Ross, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather was called home Saturday, July 2, 2016 by his heavenly Father. Sonny’s entire life was dedicated to his loving family, the single greatest joy in his life of 86 years. Born to Captain Amos and Sophie Ross on September 17th, 1929, he was the ninth of ten children; seven boys and three girls. His father was a lifelong fisherman and the owner of the original Yellow Cab Company of Biloxi. Sonny grew up working in the family taxi business along with his brothers and sisters. Married to his childhood sweetheart, Sonny and Helen (Gartman) spent sixty-five wonderful years as man and wife; they were inseparable. Sonny and Helen were blessed by God with three wonderful daughters; Nancy Elizabeth Rogers (Hank), Lehwmon Ann Skrmetti (John Pat) and Colleen Maree Kavanagh (Danny); eight precious grandchildren, who affectionately called him “Poppy”, Tara Elizabeth Adas (Yusef), Scarlett Joycelyn Rogers, Daniel Mark Kavanagh (Sara), John Ernest Skrmetti (Dhiana), Joshua Lehwmon Skrmetti, Hayley Colleen Langford (Ryan), Jacob Thomas Skrmetti, Jolie Kate Kavanagh; and five treasured great-grandchildren, Caleb Jordan Adas, Jonathan Reid Skrmetti, Sawyer Dhiana Skrmetti, Aubree Ann Kavanagh, Eleanor Maree Langford and expected in October, Nolan Sonny Kavanagh. A graduate of the Biloxi High School class of 1950, Sonny was a defensive lineman for the Biloxi Indians football team. After graduation he played with the ‘Galloping Gales’, a semi-professional football team from Biloxi, MS. Helen and Sonny both worked on the committees that conducted the Biloxi High School Class of 1950 Reunions over the years. Sonny was employed at Ingalls Shipbuilding as a Supervisor in the Rigging Department, retiring after 34 years of service. He was a Master in the arts of the sailor; working with and splicing ropes of all kinds, shapes and sizes. After retirement, he and Helen traveled extensively. They visited forty-nine of the fifty States with the Golden Age Club, the BanCorp South Lively Ones and the Hancock Bank Travel Group. They celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in Italy. In the last years of his life Sonny and Helen took many ‘family road trips’ with his children and grandchildren. They visited many out of the way and exotic locations- such as Picayune- taking all day, as they stopped at every flea market, antique shop and local restaurant along the route. A member of Nativity B.V.M Cathedral Parish Catholic Church, he and Helen served on the Parish Life Team and as greeters prior to daily mass. He was also facilities co-chairman for the Sacred Heart Parish Life Center. A member in the Knights of Columbus #1244, Sonny was a Fourth Degree Knight. He was selected as Knight of the Quarter, Knight of the Year and his family was chosen as Family of The Year. He was also honored in 2015 as the Father of The Year by the Biloxi Lions Club. His hobbies centered around his ‘shed’, where he spent many relaxing hours refinishing antique furniture, sipping his favorite beverage and enjoying a cigar. It was the only place ‘Hollan’ (Helen) allowed him to smoke. Sonny shared a large and extended family and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to be with his family whenever possible, particularly at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sonny is also survived by his brother John Lindbergh Ross (Roselyn) of Ocean Springs, MS and many, many nieces and nephews that loved him dearly. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Nativity BVM Cathedral on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at 11:00 am. Friends may visit from 9:00 am until mass time. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.