Funeral Costs Celebration of Life for Mike Ross

My name is Morgan Ross and I am creating this go fund me to help pay for the funeral expenses for my father Michael Sean Ross. Due to myself being a nursing student and my sister Madison moving to Florida 8 months ago- we are struggling to come up with the money to give him a goodbye/celebration of his life that he undoubtedly deserves. Any and all donations made will be used towards this and is greatly appreciated.

At 12:19 pm on 11/17/2021 I got the phone call….I was informed that my dad has passed away. my heart dropped to my stomach and i don’t know how to describe the feelings that come with losing a parent. I feel empty…like a part of me is gone forever… My dad is gone…. My dad isn’t coming back….. I can’t hug him or tell him I love him ever again. He won’t ever be able to walk me down the aisle…..I can’t wrap my head around it. Death is a complicated, messy, truly devastating thing.

My father wasn’t blessed with an easy life. He had kind of a rough childhood and difficulties followed into adolescence and adulthood. He may have struggled with using alcohol, drugs and mental health but deep down he was a good man. I believe he blamed himself for a lot of things and that’s why he turned to alcohol and drugs. I would always be so happy and proud of him when he was sober for months and then so disappointed, sad and hurt when he would relapse. Loving someone through addiction/mental health isn’t always easy and most people walk away but I loved him anyways. It amazes me how many lives he touched, how many people he was able to help and love no matter what struggles he was facing alone. He is truly one of the strongest people I have been blessed to have known.

I have a huge amount of guilt because I didn’t talk to him for months due to everything I was going through and I am praying he forgives me. I know he most likely already has but it’s hard losing someone so abruptly. However I’m glad we were able to talk on the phone and rekindle things a few weeks ago. His last message to me was on Friday saying “miss you more”. Oh how badly I wish I would have called you….. I can’t count the times I have prayed to God since the news. Mad, frustrated, the constant “why”. But I will never know. None of us will. But what I do know is that he isn’t suffering anymore. He is happy and watching over us and somehow I hope I can find the beauty in that someday….

Despite his hard times he went through and despite how many times he relapsed, my sister and I have been there for him. It hasn’t always been rainbows and butterflies but what relationship is? I will forever miss him. He was always cracking jokes and trying to make light of a situation and was always there for me, no matter what I did wrong. My favorite memory will probably always be when he met Amelia for the first time and he cried. It was a beautiful time. He always said “she looks just like me” so that will be a fun thing to share with Amelia as she grows up. He would always do Facebook lives, posting funny pictures of himself, just always trying to entertain others and makes them smile and laugh. He always told me to keep my chin up during my own difficulties and to stay strong and focused. He was so kind, so accepting and so loving in many ways.

Lastly—From the bottom of my heart, please do me a favor and hugged your loved ones a little extra tonight and for the rest of your days.

I love you and miss you most, Dad.

I hope you are hugging grandma and grandpa so tight in heaven.

You will forever be loved and missed by so many.

Rest In Peace Dad.