Obituary of Ross Emmett Poe

Ross Emmett Poe, 86, passed away as he lived—active and working till the very end—on April 16, 2023.

Ross was born on August 21, 1936 in the backwoods near Flemington, Missouri and often described the incredible poverty he grew up in. At the earliest opportunity, he followed his oldest sister, Maxine, to Kansas City, Missouri where he worked for Hallmark Cards before joining the U.S. Army in 1958. The Army was a life-altering force, and he made it his career for twenty-six years. He enjoyed working on cars and doing all manner of home repairs, which he taught himself by reading repair manuals and trial-and-error. 

Ever a hard worker, retirement didn’t actually mean retirement. After the Army, Ross ran a small business and later segued into property management, which he worked at until the very end. He loved to work, loved to look after people, including his tenants, in the best way he knew how—by keeping things in order and in good repair and making everything as pleasant as possible. He will be remembered for his drive and ever-present sense of urgency, his easy smile and chatty ways, and his unflaggingly positive attitude. 

Ross is survived by his wife of eighteen years, Filonila Poe; his daughters, Lisa Knapp, Susan, and Lorrie; his son-in-law Kenny Knapp; and his grandchildren Murphy Knapp, Riley Knapp, and Riley’s wife, Nicole; as well as Lorrie’s and Susan’s children.

Graveside Service with full military honors, 10:00AM, Wednesday, May 3, 2023, Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10545 Drennan Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80925.