OVERSON, Ross W.

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 01/20/2006 Ross W. Overson died Jan. 16, 2006 in Parowan, Utah. Ross was born July 27, 1914 in St. Johns to Henry Christian and Margaret Jarvis Overson. He graduated from St. Johns High School in 1932, was an avid basketball player and sports fan. Ross loved basketball and was named No. 1 man of M Men Basketball Top High Scorer for the L.D.S. Church District Championship in 1939. He started training to be a pilot at age 19 and logged over 7,900 hours as an instructor for the military over four or five years. Ross experienced many careers from general contracting to auto reconditioning to a private pilot for businessmen, but he spent most of his years working for the Arizona Highway Department supervising the construction of most of today's existing highways in the area. After retirement he became a business owner, but his true love of life was running his "Slim Pickens" ranch. He enjoyed ranching more than any cowboy in Arizona. Ross was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved serving in the capacity of the Adult Sunday School Class President for 37 years and greeted every member at church with a smile. Ross is survived by one daughter, Diane (Richard) Casebolt of Katy, Texas; six sons, Ivan (Aurelie) Overson and Larry (Terri) Overson of Gilbert, Gary (Renee) Overson of Parowan, Utah, Mike (Annamae) Conway and Ross Jr. (Dana) Overson of St. Johns, and Dean (Shauna) Overson of Maricopa; 43 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; and 21 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by grandma Gladys Overson; one son, Kay Ross Overson; and one daughter, Myrna Mineer. Funeral services will be held at the downtown LDS Chapel at 10 a.m. in St. Johns. Friends and family may call at 9 a.m. prior to services at the church. Interment will be in the St. Johns Cemetery. Burnham Mortuary of St. Johns handled the arrangements.