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Friday, December 26, 2003, 9:27 a.m.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Robert Ross, a former advertising executive who helped create the concept for the Pillsbury Doughboy, died Thursday in Hendersonville, N.C. He was 85.

Ross, who worked for the Leo Burnett Company in Chicago, was one of the people who worked on the idea for Poppin' Fresh, the character featured in Pillsbury advertisements.

He also worked at D'Arcy McManus Masius, becoming senior vice president and creative director for the company's Chicago offices in 1969. He retired in 1971. Burnett and D'Arcy later became conglomerates.

Ross also wrote mystery novels, including "The Medici Guns," "The Medici Emerald" and "The French Finish," which won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for the best first mystery by a new writer in 1978.

In 1980, he moved to Hendersonville and wrote a weekly column for the area's daily newspaper, The Times-News.

The pillsbury doughboy creeps me out.

The Obituary of the Pillsbury Doughboy
It is with the saddest heart i pass on the following:Please join me in remembering a great icon - the veteran Pillbury spokesman. The Pillsbury doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.


Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. butterworth, Hungry Jack, The California Raisins, Betty Crocker, The Hostess twinkies,

and Captain Crunch.


The gravesite was piled high with flours.As long-time friend, Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy, describing Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded.


Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very "smart" cookie, wasting much of his dough on halfbaked schemes. Despite being being a little flaky at times, he even still, as a crusty old man, was considered a roll model for millons.


Toward the end it was thought he would rise again, but alas, he was no tart. Doughboyis surved by his wife, Play Dough; two chidren,

John Dough and Jane Dough; plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.


The funeral was held at 3:50 for about twenty minutes.