Hazel Johnson Ross
Obituary
Hazel Johnson ROSS
Went to be with the Lord on April 21st 2007.
She was born in Mankato Minnesota to Henry and Edna Schultz, the youngest of 5 children. She married Harris Johnson in 1946 and together they dedicated their lives to the missionary service through the Conservative Baptist Missionary Society. They, along with their two children Janet and Jerry were assigned to the Belgian Congo. They had a third son and named him Roger who was born on Harris’ birthday in October 1951. 10 months later after completing 18 months of schooling in Brussels Belgium, and just 8 days from their scheduled departure to the Congo, Harris died and went to be with the Lord.
Hazel returned to the states with her three small children under her wings and with the help of her extended church family at Montavilla Baptist church in Portland Oregon got her teaching credentials, later also two Master Degrees. She started teaching in Portland in 1955. In 1962 she met and married her beloved Earl Ross, also a widower at Montavilla Baptist.
In 1964 they moved to the Puget Sound Washington area where she started teaching at Glendale Junior High in south Seattle. She moved to Kentridge High School in 1968 and continued there until she retired in 1991. After she retired she went on to teach English as a Second Language at Green River Community College. She dedicated her whole teaching career to one of excellence and received many teaching awards over the years including The Washington State Christa McAuliffe Award in 1990. She also served on the Group Health’s Renton Medical Center Council. Hazel and Earl enjoyed traveling on extended trips to Europe where they especially liked to hike the high mountain trails of the Italian and French Alps.
Hazel is survived by, Daughter: Janet Trautman Dan, Sons: Jerome Johnson, Roger Johnson Beth, Step-Daughter: Janet Henderson Clarence, Grandsons: Jim and Gary Henderson, Douglas Scott, and Brandon Johnson, and Great-Grand-Children: Austin, Aimee, Houston and
Hunter Henderson, Shyi R. Hazel Scott, and Ross Johnson Named after his uncle Ross.
In addition to her first husband Harris, preceding her in death was her beloved Earl and Grandson Ross Aaron Johnson, Father and Mother, brothers Roger and Franklin and sisters Josephine and Ruth.
Memorial Service, 7:00PM, Friday, May 4, 2007 at First Baptist Church of Kent, 11420 S.E. 248th St., Kent, 98030. Private Inurnment, Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial Park. Remembrances suggested to Children’s Hospital, 4800 Sandpoint Way N.E., Seattle, 98105 or www.doctorswithoutborders.com.
To The Family of Mrs.Hazel Johnson Ross
I would like to express my deepest sympathy to each of you. Although we are not acquainted with one another, we are acquainted with the pain when our loved ones fall asleep in death.
Our Heavenly Father feels the pain that you are going through. When he created the first Man and Woman it was his purpose that they and their offspring including us live forever without the effects of sickness and death.
His purpose has not changed for he promises that the day is soon to come in which he will wipe away the tears of sorrow from our eyes forever and death will be no more.
He promises too that your loved ones, my loved ones and many others will hear his voice and come out of the memorial tombs graves.
I was saddened to hear about the passing of Mrs. Ross. She was one of my teachers at Kentridge Class of 1988 She was inspiring and a quick wit. She was always my favorite teacher and I continued to received Christmas cards from her up until the last few years. I remember I had just met my now husband and ran into her and Ross at an office supply store and she recognized me right away. She mentioned that I was one of her favorite students and if I was still single she had a son who was available. :- She was a wonderful woman who will be missed. I am sure she has touched more lives than we will ever know.
Although Aunt Hazel was my sister’s godmother, she never left me out. I have many fond memories of both Hazel and Earl through many adventures. The memories I remember particularly are those from our trip to Chamonix, France. If Hazel wasn’t sweet-talking the maitre’d, she was leading my father in song, in French over a good bottle of wine. Hazel was quick to laugh and always had a story tell. She will be missed.
I am deeply grieved to hear of the death of Hazel Ross. She was one of my best friends, while at Kentridge High School, and certainly my biggest supporter.
I traveled to Europe with Hazel and Earl in the summer of 1989. It was a great time and I learned a lot from the two of them. They were lovely people.
If the family has photos of our trip from 1989, it would be a joyous experience for me to view them. Please contact me.
I am also sad to learn about the death of Earl Ross. What a wonderful man he was – so vital.
I am sorry to have lost touch of two beautiful people!
Katherine Katie Glew
I had taught 7 years before I came
to Kentridge and met your mother.
Then from her I learned how to teach. I still use some of her ideas here in northern Virginia in
AP Lit classes.
To All who visit here.
I feel a little strange communicating this way, but wanted to thank those of you who either by distance or time conflicts cannot make it to the service on Friday.
I will totally miss Mom as I have Dad as well this last year. I have just this short story to tell about Mom that you might enjoy. She being the teacher she was, firmly believed that the weekend was for the family and should not be taken up by homework from School. I had just start my school year and was in the Mother of All Washington State History classes at Highline High school. My teacher sent home this monster essay paper that was due the following Monday. She totally blew up and in a fit of rage took the assignment away from me and did it herself so that we could spend our planned weekend as it had been planned, not as my teacher had planned it. I took the essay to school the following Monday very smug mind you at it’s professional appearance and proceeded in getting a ‘D’…. ah, yes… they said the paint was peeling in the school’s principle’s office! at any rate, there was no more homework in Washington State History on the weekends the rest of the school year!
Anyway, I really appreciate your comments and your stories as well.
Roger
I was fortunate enough to teach with Hazel at Kentridge High School. I found her to be an inspiration, a friend, and a delight to know.
Dedicated to Hazel and Earl, We met at Nordstrom in the late 80’s when Earl was brought in by Hazel to up grade his wardrobe. We bonded right-away. Earl became my tax guy and we shared stories about the love of travel. I met them in Switzerland and France in ’93 & ’95. What great memories we created. Blessings to you both now in the arms of The Lord. Robert Gaston
Dear Mrs. Ross Family,
I was very sorry to hear of Hazels passing. My wife and I were one of the fortunate people to have Mrs. Ross as a teacher at Kentridge, class of 1981. We both have fond memories, especially reading Hemmingway. She was great teacher that touched and inspired me to do better in school and hope my kids find a teacher like I did in Mrs. Ross.
Jay and Deirdre Denckla
Jan, I’m so sorry to hear about your mother! Thank you for notifying me. Was she ill a long time? I am putting together the next Johnson Family newsletter & will include her memorial. Hope to meet you some day. “Cousin” Jim
Hazel was my mentor during my first years of teaching at Glendale Junior High School. She was a wonderful friend who often gave me a ride home as well. I was a shy, newly married young woman and she really took care of me with the veteran teachers at Glendale. I have often wondered about her after I knew she retired from Kentridge. She was a wonderful, talend educator who had a talent for reaching all children. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family at this time.
Jan, Jerry and Roger,
What a wonderful tribut to such a special person! Your mother loved you all so very much and although it’s difficult to know that she is no longer here on this earth, you can take so much comfort in knowing that she is safe in the arms of Jesus. My love and hugs to all of you. ~Karolyn
I know this is many years after her passing… but I just came across this site today after searching for Ms. Hazel Ross on Google. She was one of my most loved and influential teachers at Kentridge in the mid-80’s. I have always thought of her and the things that she taught beyond the classroom. I just want you to know how much your mother/grandmother will always mean to me! Many blessings!
I too found this site after searching for Mrs. Ross. She will always be remembered as one of the most influential high school teachers in my life, and I am sure, in the lives of many others. It was a joy to read about her life through this obituary. I only wish I could have known her as an adult and appreciated all of her many life experiences. We were so blessed that she poured that rich life into us! She was a true treasure! Many blessings on all of you and your family.
Hazel was my spring board to life
I thank her and use what she taught me to this day
I just did a search for Mrs Ross. wondering about my all time favorite teacher from Kentridge in the mid 70’s. Hazel Ross found a way to light up English Literature class and make Shakespeare interesting and fun! Though many years belated, I am sorry for your loss.
I came across this page as I was writing a blog post about my favorite teacher and thought the family might like to see that I had honored her. She meant a lot to a lot of people. https://www.donorschoose.org/blog/grammar-girl-on-teachers-have-inspired-her/