Obituary: John Tom Ross

Nevada Native John Tom Ross passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on May 25th, 2023 at 93 years of age.

John Tom (Tom) was the son of the late Judge John R. Ross and Margaret Burns Ross and was born in Wellington, Nevada. Delivered with the help of two Paiute women, he was gifted a cradle board. It was common to see Tom in his first days, wrapped in his board, swaying from tree branches while his mother tended to her garden.

Tom was raised in Yerington, Nevada beside his older sister, Jackalyn “Jackie” Ross Laxalt. The family resided there until Tom’s father, by presidential appointment, became a judge for the 9th Circuit Court. Accepting this position, the family relocated to Carson City. Tom graduated from Carson HIgh in 1947.

Tom graduated from University of Nevada (U of N). in 1951. At University, Tom was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity House and had what is known as secret memberships in both the Coffin and Keys and campus Sundowners.

Tom moved to Washington DC following U of N where he worked for Senator Malone in the day to put himself through Georgetown Law at night. He married his first wife, Jeanette, and soon had his first-born son, John R. Ross II. Shortly thereafter, Tom enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1953 serving in Korea.

After Tom’s military service, he completed Georgetown Law and returned to Carson City. Divorced from his first wife, Tom Married Janis Whitely in 1962 and he and Jan had two children together and raised a blended family until her death in 2001.

In law, Tom worked beside his dear friend Jack Christensen who, orphaned in Yerington, was placed in Sunny Acres orphanage in Carson City. Tom’s father, knowing the legal case of “little Jack,” invited “little Jack” over for dinner the first week after the Ross family relocated to Carson City and well, little Jack never left. Tom and Jack became much more than sidekicks; they became unofficial brothers. One show of brotherly love is that once Jack also became an attorney, Tom always held an office for Jack.

John Tom was elected District Attorney (DA) of what was then Ormsby County in 1958. He practiced Law across the State. Later in life, he became a Deputy DA under Rex Bell in Clark Co. Tom also held several mining claims in Nevada including the cinder pit outside of Carson City, he owned Cinderlite and Savage Construction (a concrete company), among other business ventures.

Tom may best be remembered for his love and loyalty towards the University of Nevada. He and his wife Jan were avid athletic fans. As a longtime booster, his children learned to bleed Silver and Blue from an early age. People who knew Tom could always count on him for a ticket or two if extra tickets were available. HIs generous nature offered many a good time. Tom’s overall devotion and gratitude to the U of N ran so pure that he remained throughout his lifetime, pleased and humbled to have once represented his District as a member on the Nevada Board of Regents. And attending the University of Nevada for undergrad work was “mandatory roll call” for his children.

John Tom is preceded in death by his wife Jan (Whitely) Ross, his son John R. Ross and his daughter Marla Ann Ross. He is survived by his son Thomas W. Ross of Carson City, daughter Cynthia Ross of Las Vegas, grandson Janson Thomas Ross of Las Vegas as well as nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The Ross family extends appreciation and gratitude to all who loved and at the end of life, cared for John Tom.

A graveside ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 6th, 2023 @ 11:00 am, Lone Mountain Cemetery, Carson City. All those who wish to join us in prayer and/or for saying a final goodbye are welcome.