Ethel Ross was born on Apr. 6, 1897, in Juneau, Alaska, as the second child of Allistaire (Alexander) Murdock Ross and Agnes Stafford. She had two siblings: William Alexander and Jean Stafford. In Juneau, the family lived near the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church. In later years, Ethel recalled fond memories from her childhood of listening to a meadow lark singing from the cross atop the onion-shaped dome of the church. Ethel moved with her family from Juneau to Seattle, Washington, in about 1910. She graduated from Lincoln High School (near Green Lake) in 1915, where she was in the college preparatory program and served as vice-president of the French club. She then attended the University of Washington for two years. Subsequently, she took positions as a school teacher in various schools in Washington State, including Bracewell School in Kent, Deckerville School near Matlock, and Cove School on Vashon Island. When she was 23, Ethel married Earl Morrison, son of Hugh Morrison and Lillian Bell Gilbert, in Seattle, Washington, on Jul. 1, 1920. Ethel and Earl had met when they were both attending the University Presbyterian Church near the University of Washington. Earl and Ethel had two children: Helen Louise (1921 – 2009) and Warren Earl "Buddy" (1923 – 1927). Earl was a carpenter and building contractor by profession, and he built several houses for the couple to live in throughout the Seattle area and the Pacific Northwest, including Edmonds, Similk Beach, and Kirkland, Washington. Ethel maintained her interest in education by teaching Sunday school at various churches as the family moved to different communities. She also enjoyed traveling, gardening, playing music, and collecting butter pat plates, which her friends brought to her from all over the world. Ethel died of a heart attack on Dec. 23, 1968, in Seattle, at the age of 71. She was buried in the Kirkland Cemetery near her husband, who had died in 1961.
Ethel Ross was born on Apr. 6, 1897, in Juneau, Alaska, as the second child of Allistaire (Alexander) Murdock Ross and Agnes Stafford. She had two siblings: William Alexander and Jean Stafford. In Juneau, the family lived near the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church. In later years, Ethel recalled fond memories from her childhood of listening to a meadow lark singing from the cross atop the onion-shaped dome of the church. Ethel moved with her family from Juneau to Seattle, Washington, in about 1910. She graduated from Lincoln High School (near Green Lake) in 1915, where she was in the college preparatory program and served as vice-president of the French club. She then attended the University of Washington for two years. Subsequently, she took positions as a school teacher in various schools in Washington State, including Bracewell School in Kent, Deckerville School near Matlock, and Cove School on Vashon Island. When she was 23, Ethel married Earl Morrison, son of Hugh Morrison and Lillian Bell Gilbert, in Seattle, Washington, on Jul. 1, 1920. Ethel and Earl had met when they were both attending the University Presbyterian Church near the University of Washington. Earl and Ethel had two children: Helen Louise (1921 – 2009) and Warren Earl "Buddy" (1923 – 1927). Earl was a carpenter and building contractor by profession, and he built several houses for the couple to live in throughout the Seattle area and the Pacific Northwest, including Edmonds, Similk Beach, and Kirkland, Washington. Ethel maintained her interest in education by teaching Sunday school at various churches as the family moved to different communities. She also enjoyed traveling, gardening, playing music, and collecting butter pat plates, which her friends brought to her from all over the world. Ethel died of a heart attack on Dec. 23, 1968, in Seattle, at the age of 71. She was buried in the Kirkland Cemetery near her husband, who had died in 1961.
