Gross

Margaret I. "Marty" Gross, 92, a resident at the Westchester Retirement Community in Tempe, Ariz., formerly of Foxburg, passed away early Sunday morning at the Banner Desert Hospital in Mesa, Ariz.

She was born in Clintonville, June 22, 1918, a daughter of George W. and Margaret Shepley Sloan.

She was a graduate of both Clintonville High School and Slippery Rock State College, where she earned a teaching certificate. She taught elementary school in both Foxburg and Knox.

She served as a WAVE in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

On July 21, 1945, she married Harry A. Gross in Norfolk, Va. They returned to Foxburg, where they made their home.

She found great joy creating beautiful flower gardens enjoyed by all who visited her home. Using those flowers, Marty also made beautiful arrangements, which for many years, adorned the altar at the Memorial Church of Our Father Episcopal Church in Foxburg.

She was an active member of the Garden Club of Clarion County and the Miller-Rankin American Legion Post 636.

She enjoyed many rounds of golf at the Foxburg Country Club and received a 7-10 split badge from her bowling league in Seneca.

She was a member of the congregation of the St. Peter Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg.

She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Braffett and her husband, Charles, of Tempe, Ariz.; a son, David Gross of Chandler, Ariz.; and a granddaughter, Beth Kearns and her husband, George, of Tempe, Ariz.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry A. Gross, who died Feb. 15, 1990; and a son, James E. Gross, who died June 27, 1982.

<B>GROSS </B>— Friends of Margaret I. "Marty" Gross, who died Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010, will be received at the <B>Hile Funeral Home</B>, 802 Grove St., St. Petersburg, Clarion County, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the St. Peter Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg with the Rev. Deborah Jacobson, church pastor, officiating.Military honors will be accorded by the Foxburg American Legion Post 636 and the Parker VFW Post 7073. Interment will follow in Foxburg Cemetery.Memorial contributions may be made to the Foxburg Free Library, P.O. Box 304, Foxburg, PA 16036.For additional information, directions or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.