DEFALCO, Ross

The Payson Roundup, Payson, Arizona, Tuesday, April 14, 2015 Ross DeFalco May 26, 1941 - March 21, 2015 Ross DeFalco, a longtime resident of Payson, died on March 21, 2015. Ross was born May 26, 1941 in Ensley, Ala. to Rose and Sam DeFalco. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Perth Amboy, N.J., and in 1947 they made Arizona their permanent home. Ross took up barbering and opened his first shop in Phoenix in 1968. Four years later, he moved his business to Payson to experience the cool weather and small-town atmosphere of the Rim. Ross owned the Swiss Village Barbershop for over 35 years and enjoyed cutting hair and sharing in the life stories of the residents in town. He retired in 2007 and remained in Payson until the time of his death. One of his greatest pleasures was driving to the White Mountains where he loved to drop a line in the water for a day of fishing. Ross is survived by his wife of 34 years, Bette; daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Jim Burright; stepchildren, Cindy Babers, Deedee Poole, and Tim and Terry Richards. His sister and brother-in-law, JoLee and Joe Kennedy, reside in Phoenix, as do nieces, Janelle Romero and Jenna Kennedy, and nephew, Joseph Kennedy. Additional family members include nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. A memorial visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 18, 2015 at Messinger Mortuary, 901 S. Westerly Rd., Payson, AZ 85541. For more information, call (928) 474-2800 or go online at www.messingermorturary.com.