Mildred Evelyn Steward-Gross

May 15, 2008 06:09 pm

— A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. at Baptist Temple Church, 705 Paradise Rd., Modesto, CA 95351, on Saturday, May 17, 2008 for Mildred E. Steward-Gross, 87, a long-time resident of Modesto, California and a member of Baptist Temple Church since 1951.
She was born in La Casa, Texas on July 8, 1920 as her parents, Mr. and Mrs. I.L. Steward, traveled in a covered wagon from Louisiana to Texas then Oklahoma. She passed away May 12, 2008.
After attending high school in Paoli, Oklahoma, she married Wilburn “Jack” Gross, deceased in 1965. They had five children: Larry Gross, Ann Patterson, Ray Gross, Linda Phinney (deceased in 1997) and Donald Gene Gross (deceased in 1942).
Before working as a sales clerk at Burr Department Store in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, she worked in the fields and became known as the best “broomcorn Jonny” in three counties.
After arriving in Modesto, California in 1951, she was employed by J.C. Penney Company as a retail sales clerk for 34 years until retirement at age 65, then she worked as a sales clerk at Paradise Drugs until 2002.
A woman of faith, Mildred visited Israel and shared her wonderful experiences of that trip with family, friends and her church. Besides visiting holy places including the birthplace and tomb of Jesus, she walked to the top of Masada and took a ride on a camel.
She was preceded in death by her husband, a daughter, an infant son, her parents and two sisters.
Mildred is survived by three children: Larry and Marty (wife) Gross, Ann Patterson and Ray Gross; 20 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. will be on Friday, May 16 at Salas Bros. Funeral Chapel at 419 Scenic Dr. Modesto, CA 95350.
Graveside services are to follow Saturday. Memorial services are at Ceres Memorial Park - 1801 East Whitmore Ave., Ceres, CA 95307, with a potluck to follow at Las Casitas Mobile Home Park, 2841 Fowler Rd., Ceres, CA.