Elaine Ross

Elaine G. Ross Obituary

Elaine Marie Grevenstuk Ross, age 78, of SaddleBrooke, AZ passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 5, 2024, surrounded by her husband and family.

Elaine was born in Rensselaer, IN on March 29, 1946, to Gerrit and Kathryn Grevenstuk. She was raised in DeMotte, IN on a corn and asparagus farm. She always said that she learned to ride a horse before she could walk. She loved all animals, particularly horses, from a very young age.

After graduating from high school, she went to Central College in Pella, IA, where she met her first husband, Steven Armitstead. In 1970, after he was listed MIA as a Marine pilot, Elaine and her mother traveled between Hawaii and Laos to try and find out where and what happened to Steve. He was found to have been shot down and killed over Laos.

Elaine received a Secretarial Course Diploma from Marycrest College in 1966, and was a legal secretary, proficient in shorthand, in Lafayette, IN during the 1970s. She also helped set up and start a plant leasing business as well as taught ceramics in her spare time. She met and married her beloved husband, Rick, in 1980. She became interested in hand spinning and weaving and helped start and run a fiber/yarn and equipment store. They moved to Greensboro, NC in 1985. There she raised fiber animals on their 5-acre mini farm. Her passions included working with young children, teaching them to spin and weave. She traveled to various schools as a volunteer and had outings at the farm for the kids. Upon retirement, she and Rick moved to SaddleBrooke, AZ, where she continued spinning and weaving. She set up a studio at home, was active in the local fiber guilds and continued to work with school children.

Elaine was predeceased by her parents, older sister, Melodie Cross, younger brother, Jeffrey Grevenstuk, and nephew, Keith Cross.

She is survived by her husband, Rick Ross, older brother, David (Pat) Grevenstuk, younger brother, George (Juel) Grevenstuk, sister-in-law Kimberly Grevenstuk, brother-in-law Cliff Cross, stepchildren, Diedre Votaw and David Ross, step-grandchildren, Dawson Ross, Aidan Ross, Lily Ross and McKenzie Votaw, and several nieces and nephews.

The family offers special thanks to Mom and Dad Place of Catalina and to Casa de la Luz Hospice for their exceptional care in Elaine’s last few months.

No services are currently planned. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org.