September 1, 1933 – June 8, 2025
at the age of 91 years:
Stewart (Stu) Ross passed away peacefully in his Salmon Arm home on June 8, 2025.
Stu was born in Stalwart, Saskatchewan on September 1, 1933. He was the fourth youngest of 9 children. His mother Louise and father James immigrated from Scotland in 1927. He moved with his family to Imperial, Saskatchewan in 1942 at age 8.
He lost his father at the age of 11 and often talked about how his oldest sister Louise had to take care of him and his younger siblings.
He worked in a hardware store and a pool hall in his younger years. In 1957, he moved to Regina, Saskatchewan where he started working for Federated Co-op Lumber Operations.
He married his wife Carole in Regina, Saskatchewan on February 29, 1964 (a leap year and he often joked he only had an anniversary every 4 years!) He was transferred to various cities with his job including Calgary, Winnipeg and Saskatoon. His final transfer was to Salmon Arm, B.C. in 1971 where he worked as the sales manager for Federated Co-op Lumber Mill in Canoe, B.C.
He raised his 6 children in Salmon Arm and bought his “dream house” in 1972 on Lakeshore Rd. He lived in this house the rest of his life (53 years!)
He was hardworking, kind and adventurous.
He and his wife Carole were foster parents for 40 years and over 100 children were welcomed into their home. He had a nick name for every kid he knew. He was a great storyteller and knew how to deliver a funny joke with his dry sense of humor. He wrote in his own font that no one could replicate. He planted cherry trees in his backyard and eventually crafted his own red wine from the cherries and was so proud to share his product with his friends. He loved music, especially piano, and was a good dancer. He spent endless hours taking kids to hockey practices, tournaments and swim meets. He enjoyed cheering them on in their various sporting events.
He was quite athletic being awarded several trophies throughout his lifetime particularly in bowling, curling and golf. He set up a ping pong table in the basement and could beat everyone with his smashing backhand shot. He learned to downhill ski at age 40 and could water ski slalom. Every winter he took his kids skating on frozen Shuswap Lake and skiing on Silver Star Mountain.
He retired in 1992 after 35 years of service with Federated Co-op. Retirement did not slow him down. He was happy he could now golf everyday! He continued to work as a marshal at the Salmon Arm Golf Club and volunteered at Shuswap Lake General Hospital installing T.V.s in patients’ rooms. He had fun dropping into the Seniors Center to visit friends and play pool.
He enjoyed his beloved cabin on Shuswap Lake. He looked forward to the summer when family/relatives would gather for the annual reunion and he could barbeque his salmon and corn on the cob in the red Weber BBQ! He spent many hours at the cabin tending to the lawn, watching wildlife and sipping an ice-cold beer on the porch with the breeze off the lake.
He is survived by his wife Carole and their six children Dana (Melodie), Tracy (John), Shannon, Cory, Bradley and Marilyn, 4 grandchildren, his sister Marina and brother Dunc (Jan).
It was an incredible life journey with so many amazing memories that will be cherished forever. He will be greatly missed by his family.
As per his wishes there will be no service.
My sincerest condolences to the Ross family.
We lived on Upper Lakeshore in a red house just down the street from you guys. I remember Dana. We were only there for a year or so in 1973. Six kids also! As did the O’Briens directly across from us. All of your siblings may not have arrived yet! Lots of children to play with. My sister Frances has fond memories of Stu saying he was a very kind man. My Dad was in the sawmill industry too and worked for Federated when they owned Downie in Revelstoke.
Beautiful neighborhood to raise a family and stay. I remember its semi developed rurality with its fields of luscious spring asparagus; an abandoned apricot tree loaded with apricots. Raven’s orchard with its crisp spartan apples. Cherries everywhere for eating or making wine! And yes skating on Shuswap lake on the Bay below chasing carp beneath transparent ice; shooting a puck into infinity. Living for weekend skiing at Silverstar and slalom skiing in the summer. Riding bikes up and down the street in summer in near darkness our youthful eyes seeing far into the future and keeping us safe from collisions!
Mrs. Ross driving by our place in
a 70s sedan with the perfect perm and neat appearance framed in the driver’s window: « Dana, just you wait until your father gets home!! ». And he got home and Dana calmed down and nothing happened! I hope my sister got that right.
All the best to you and your families.
To Carol,Dana,and family. I would like to send my deep condolences of my dear friend Stu Ross! Stu hired me in 1979 from FCL in Saskatoon . He Trained me mentored me and believed in me! He was Avery kind patient and a very knowleadgeable man! He taught me a lot more in my life than lumber and plywood sales! He was truly a hard working company man! I sat across a desk in the office from him for 4 years and he had many great stories I will be forever grateful for his trust in me. He has touched my life like no other person possibly could have!! He may be gone but not forgotten at least not by me! I still use your golf balls Stu that you gave me 5 years ago! And I will continue to think about you every time I go golfing! I hope you are are enjoying the cold beer from above! Cheers Stu!
Carol, Dana and family I would like to express my sincere condolences on your loss. Stu was my mentor he hired me from FCL in Saskatoon when I was 24 years old!. Even though I was young he trained me and believed in me and because Stu was a very patient kind and a very knowledgeable man he taught me a lot more in my life than just lumber and plywood sales! We sat across the desk f from each other for 4 years and I really enjoyed each and every day! Each day was a new lesson and and new story !! He had many great stories!! Stu touched my life in a way no one else ever could!!! I was always grateful for everything he did for me in my life time. Stu I’m still using some of those golf balls you gave me 5 years ago and I think of you every time I golf golfing!! Haha!!! You may be gone but you will never be forgotten!! At least not by me ! Enjoy your LimeRikkie and cold beer from above!!!
To Carol and family:
So sorry to hear of Stu’s passing, he was easy to respect and always showed respect to others.
We visited there a few years ago, spent a couple of nights in our trailer at the cabin and enjoyed time with Stu talking about our working days over the many years with FCL.
A good man he was, may he rest in peace.
Sincerely, Roger (I am sad to say Mavis passed away in 2023)