Beloved grandmother, first woman president of Temple Beth Israel, entrepreneur

Micky B. Ross died peacefully at her home in La Quinta, California on September 8, with her beloved grandson Michael Simmons and his wife Theresa Simmons by her side. She was just shy of her 91st birthday.

Born Hazel Bircheat in a small town in Mississippi on March 31, 1930, she moved to North Carolina with her second husband James L. Beane in the early 1950s to open a rare and out of print book store.

She raised her two children Patricia Lynn Griggs and William Alexander Beane in the bookstore, making them both avid readers. Sadly, they all preceded her in death. Her husband Jim died of a heart attack on April 12, 1958, son Bill from Leukemia on September 30, 1986, and daughter Pat from breast cancer on October 6, 2014. 

She was working in a magazine office in Charlotte, North Carolina when she met her third husband Phil Ross, an encyclopedia salesman who had recently relocated to the US from England. They quickly fell in love and decided to move their growing family to Claremont, where they welcomed their only child together Caroldean (Deanie) Ross in January 1963. When Phil and Hazel married, she changed her name legally to Micky, and from then on was known as Micky Ross. 

She became a pillar of the Jewish communities of Claremont and Pomona, as she was the first woman president of the local synagogue, Temple Beth Israel. She was best known for her organization of the annual rummage sale, which raised thousands of dollars for the community and eventually became a thriving business.  

She opened and operated Deja Vu Fashions on Foothill Boulevard in Claremont in 1974. It was the first consignment clothing store of its kind in California. It was her passion to run it with her daughter Pat until she sold it and retired in 1998. She enjoyed being the “resale store to the stars,” as she was able to network with celebrities such as Linda Gray, Loralee Bell, Deidre Hall  and many others. 

She moved to La Quinta in 1999 after retiring to be closer to her daughter. She became a grandma again in 2009 when her grandson Declan was born. He was the apple of her eye and called her “grammick.” She enjoyed telling him stories about his aunt Pat and uncle Bill to help keep their memories alive. 

She is survived by her daughter Caroldean (Deanie) Ross; grandsons Declan Ross of Laguna Beach and Michael Simmons and his wife Theresa of La Quinta.