Billy Gene Goss' Obituary
Mr. Billy Gene Goss, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, son, grandson, brother, entrepreneur, real estate broker, farmer, and friend, died in his home on May 31, 2021 at the Heritage at Irene Woods in Memphis, TN. He was 88 years old. Bill was born in Newbern, TN on April 26, 1933 -- the son of Mattie Belle Goss Gullett and Almond Leon Goss.
Following high school, as a member of the US Armed Services during the Korean Conflict, Bill was a PFC, Surgical Technician with the 11th Airborne and 3rd Army Hospital in the US Army at Ft. Campbell, KY, with duty assignment to both the Brooke Army and Walter Reed National Medical Centers. It was during his time at Ft. Campbell that Bill met his beloved wife, Virginia Lee Willey of Pittsburgh, PA. They married on March 30, 1956 and were inseparable for 63 years until Virginia passed in 2019. After they were wed, they relocated to Tennessee, where he and Virginia attended and graduated from UT Martin.
Bill previously earned diplomas from Newbern High School and the St. Louis College of Mortuary Science, and following his undergraduate studies, he attended the UT College of Medicine in Memphis, and completed real estate, law, and business courses at the University of Memphis.
Bill devoted his life to family, friends, and our country. He was a licensed embalmer and funeral director. During his career, he managed or owned multiple shoe and clothing stores, and was a past president of the Union Avenue Merchant’s Association. He owned and operated other businesses, including his own real estate brokerage for nearly 50 years. He was a farmer for nearly as long, and a Chef at the Scottish Rite for 30 years. He retired in 1995 except for his farming and rental property interests.
He loved farming, hunting, and cooking, but king among his passions, outside of family and work, was his Masonic brotherhood. He was raised a Master Mason in Newbern Lodge 285 in 1955. In 1962, he became a member of the Scottish Rite, where he was invested with the rank of and decoration of KCCH in 1973 and was coronated a 33° IGH Mason in 1991. He was a Board and Emeritus Member of the Memphis Scottish Rite Foundation from 2004 to 2016. He was a Knight Templar in the York Rite. He was a 59 year member of Al Chymia Shrine Temple, where he served as Circus Director in 1997 and 2000, as well as the Chairman of the Trustees for 7 years, Telemarketing Director, and Booster Luncheon and Membership Chairman. He was also a member of the DeMolay Legion of Honor and the Royal Order of Jesters, Memphis Court No. 130, where he served a term as Director, and a Charter Member and Director of the Order of Que.
Bill is survived by two children, a daughter, Alicen Francis who is married to Mike Francis of Tennessee, and a son, William Lee Goss who resides in New England; along with five grandchildren, Megan Steely (Clinton), James Francis (Emily), William Goss, Aiden Goss, and Ella Goss, one great-granddaughter, Virginia Steely, and his brothers James Luther Gullett and William Edward Goss.
The family will receive friends on Friday, June 4th from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. with the funeral service celebrating his life to follow immediately at 2:30 p.m. The entombment will follow in Memorial Park Mausoleum. All services will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 767-8930.
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