Ross Dey, 45, of Sedalia, MO, died Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at University Hospital and Clinics in Columbia.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2009 at FirstBaptist Church in Sedalia with Rev. Dr. Drew Hill officiating.  Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 4 to 8:00p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Sedalia. Memorials may be made to the Coach Ross Dey Scholarship Fund in care of Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home. An online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com

Born July 8, 1964 in Sedalia, he was the son of William R. (Bill) Dey and Alma Eckhoff Dey who survive of Sedalia. On May 24, 1991 he married Amy Schroeder who survives of the home. He lived in Sedalia most of his life where he was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church, later becoming a member of First Baptist Church. He was a 1982 graduate of Smith-Cotton High School, a graduate of State Fair Community College as well as a graduate of Central Missouri State University and then earned his master's degree from WilliamWoods University. Ross began his teaching career in the Malta Bend School District during the 1987-88 school year and since the 1988 school year, he has been a teacher and coach for the Sedalia School District.

Ross had a passion for softball and that was well evidenced in his achievements and awards. He played on numerous fast pitch softball teams, including the Marshall Jazz, St. Louis GMC Dealers, Topeka Hertz, Springfield Bass Country Inn, Decatur Pride & the St. Joseph Frontier Casino Players,  and was a proud member of the USA Fast Pitch Softball Team where he earned a gold medal.  He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and a was member of the Missouri State High School Athletic Association, as well as serving as a coach for the American Legion Baseball Team. If you wanted to find Ross when he wasn't home, the place to find him would be his second home, Liberty Park Baseball Stadium.

In addition to his wife, Amy Schroeder Dey, and parents Bill and Alma Dey; heis survived by two sons, Jordan Ross Dey and Logan Brett Dey, both of the home; one brother, Warren P. Dey and wife Lisa of Jefferson City; his father-in-lawand mother-in-law, Roger and Judy Schroeder of Marshall; brothers-in-law andsisters-in-law: Darren and Sara Pannier and Kevin and Paige Yost; along with several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends, former students and teammates.