Carolyn Merritt Ross died Monday, March 1, 2021 at Atrium Health-Cleveland in Shelby. Born in Sampson County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Felmon and Mae Pearl Merritt.

Carolyn was a wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoyed being with family, reading, cooking (she collected cookbooks), quilting, and spending time at Oak Island, N.C. She was an active and faithful member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church since 1969 when the family moved to Shelby from Ohio. Fellowship Sunday School class, the United Methodist Women and Circle of Hope and her church family all were a joy and brought many blessings to her life.

After her education in Sampson County, she graduated from East Carolina, with majors in English and Library Science. She earned her Master's degree from Appalachian State University in Information Science. Her professional career included positions at D.H. Hill Library, NC State University, Raleigh, NC; University of Dayton Library, Dayton, Ohio; Wright- Patterson Air Force Base, Documents Library, Dayton, Ohio; and 25 years with Cleveland County Schools (Polkville, South Cleveland, Township Three, Burns High School, and Union Elementary).

Carolyn was a volunteer at Carolina's Healthcare System-Cleveland and at Township Three Elementary School. She was an active member of the Friends of the Library and served on the board many years. Also, a member of the NC Retired School Personnel. She was a quilter and enjoyed being a part of the Foothills Quilt Guild and Oak Island Beach Quilters.

In addition to her parents, Carolyn was preceded in death by her loving husband of 52 years, Bill Ross, and sister Elizabeth James of Savannah, GA; and brother Kenneth Merritt of Clinton, MD.

Survivors include her daughters Sandra Ross of Shelby, NC; and Wendy Ross of Chapel Hill, NC and several grandchildren, Maury Hutchens of Arnold, MD; Harrison Hutchens (Anna) of Oak Harbor, WA; Isabel Hutchens (Rob) of Chapel Hill, NC; Sophia Hutchens of Chapel Hill, NC; Emma Blankenship of Apex, NC; Max Blankenship of Savannah, GA; and Will Blankenship of Albuquerque, NM. Also, sisters in law Dianne Butler and Joyce McCrea and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Aldersgate UMC 1207 West Dixon Blvd, Shelby, NC 28152; Friends of the Library, PO Box 1120, Shelby, NC 28151; Hospice of Cleveland County, 953 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150.