In Memory

Ross Stark

Ross Stark

Ross M. Stark 1/21/1945~12/20/2005 Since his birth on January 21, 1945, Ross Stark has been searching for the perfect golf course. On December 20, 2005, he finally answered a call from many family and friends who assured him that his search was finally over. Between tee times, Ross served his country with the U.S. Army, worked in the automotive parts industry and spent countless hours with family and friends on the 19th hole. The greatest round of his life was spent with his wife Becky and his two sons, Cameron and Dustin - because the score never mattered and the drives always seemed long and straight. For nearly 30 years, Ross has called Willow Creek Country Club his home course and has not only honed his game but more importantly created many valuable friendships. Whether playing from the rough or striking from the fairway, his favorite part of the game was the company he shared it with. Off the course, Ross had the traits of the world's best bartender - a friendly pour, an open ear and a hearty laugh. His mother Lorraine Stark, Salt Lake City, wife Becky Stark, Sandy, two sons Cameron Stark, Boise, Idaho and Dustin Stark, Sandy, brother Richard (Cheryl) Stark, Sandy, and sister Kris Cluff, Sandy are finishing the round Ross left at the turn. A celebration of Ross' life will be held at the Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East 10600 South, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005 at 12:00 noon. A viewing for family and friends will be held prior to the service 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Interment will follow the service at Larkin Sunset Gardens. The family would like to applaud the kindness, professionalism and compassionate care demonstrated by the staff at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Hospital. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Huntsman Cancer Institute-www.huntsmancancer.org. Condolences may be sent to www.larkinmortuary.com
 



 
go to bottom 
  Post Comment

08/12/09 06:43 AM #1    

Charlene Baldwin (O'Connor)

Ross was everyone's true friend! There was no better!

03/23/13 11:51 AM #2    

Ronald Scott

What Charlene remembers about Ross Stark is true enough. However, it took a long, long time for some of us to come around to her way of thinking. Ross scared many of us half to death from the moment we encountered him in seventh grade at at Evergreen Junior High until our senior year at Olympus. He was a tough guy, a "greaser" in the parlance of the day. I never felt the sting of his fists, and I was quite grateful for that. However, he seemed to always be standing behind the guys who were ready to take a swing at me, for one reason or another, or simply because they could get away with it with Ross backing them up.  Who in their right mind would risk a confrontation with Ross, against whom they stood nary a snowball's chance in hell? Things began to loosen up a little junior year of high school. We both intensely disliked our English teacher, the infamous Miss Jennie Jones nee "Nicotine Nellie."   He crossed swords with her more times than I did before transferring out of her class at midyear. On one such occasion, she used the squakbox to summon help from Mr. Heywood. She pointed in the general direction of the disruptive culprit sitting two seats behind me and and whimperwhispered his name "Ross Stark" which, when mumbled quickly, can sound a lot like Ron Scott. Heywood followed  the trajectory of her finger and fiercly ordered me to join him in his office, "now!"  About halfway to the door, with Miss Jones sputtering over the mistake, I heard a voice call out: "Hey Red dog, You've got the wrong man. I was the bad boy." My savior that day was my homonymic classmate Ross Stark. Forty years or so after that incident, on my first revisit with friends from those days planning our 40th Reunion,  Ross joined the committee. Not knowing quite what to expect, I held my breath. I think it was a picture someone posted of Ross bouncing on a trampoline with Marie Rose George that convinced me he had become as gentle and kind as the man he had come to resemble: Santa Claus.  And, damn if he wasn't the guy who made it possible to do our 40th at Willow Creek Country Club rather than at the sweaty East Millcreek Gym. Along the way we became excellent friends. On one visit home, he invited me to join him for golf at Willow Creek. About halfway through the round, fortified by good conversation, I finally mustered the courage to remind him of how frightened I was of him back in the day. He climbed out of the cart and, with tears in his eyes said "If i had known, I would have apologized years ago." Then, he added with a grin: you would have avoided a helluva lot of trouble with me and my friends if you hadn't been such a wise guy, know-it-all." I smiled, bit my lip figuring if I had disagreed with his assessment he would have popped me in the nose for old times sake.


go to top 
  Post Comment