Attended Walnut Grove, graduated from Ava in class of 1947 Anna Marie Goss, 78, Harrisonville, Mo, formerly of Ava, died Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007, at Camden Care Center in Harrisonville.
Anna was born May 8, 1929, the daughter of Ousley Grover and Cleffie Mae (Hennings) Blakey, of Rome, Mo. She was the third of eight children. Anna grew up in hard times but had many good childhood memories. She loved having seven brothers and sisters and was never without a playmate. She loved to go fishing with her dad and learned to bake the best pies from her mother. She cherished growing up in a large loving family.
Anna attended the Walnut Grove School and graduated from Ava High School with the class of 1947. Anna married John E. Goss, Sr. on Sept. 15, 1948, in Mountain Home, Ark. The marriage produced five children.
Mrs. Goss was a homemaker. She especially enjoyed gardening and loved to can tomatoes, pickled beets, and zucchini relish. She took pride in teaching her daughters how to can. She loved to grow flowers and was known to have a green thumb. Her African violets were always in bloom. She loved to do embroidery work and made tea towel sets for her children and grandchildren. Anna loved being a grandmother and great-grandmother. Anna was a Christian and never lost her faith in God.
John and Anna spent many years camping at Truman Lake with family and friends. They also en¬joyed attending bluegrass festivals where they met and made many friends. Anna loved attending the alumni dinners for the class of 1947 and the Four School reunions. Although they lived in Harrisonville for 43 years, Ava was always home.
Anna was preceded in death by her parents, Ousley Grover Blakey and Cleffie Mae Hennings Blakey, of Rome; brothers Clarence Blakey, Basil Blakey and Howard Blakey, all of the Ava area, and sisters Blanche Ostrom, of California, Nellie Rosseau, Ava and Joyce Rackley, of Kansas City.
Anna is survived by her husband of 59 years, John Elmer Goss Sr. of the home; one brother, George Blakey and his wife, Violet, of Ava; and five children, John E. Goss Jr., Brenda Sweitzer, James Goss, and Linda Hetherington, all of Harrisonville, and Rebecca Davis, Paola, Kan.; 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and many relatives in the Ava area.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, in the Clinking¬beard Chapel, Ava, with the Rev. Tom Johnson officiating. Interment followed in the Springcreek Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Alzheimer’s Foundation or the Spring Creek Cemetery Fund. Services were under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava. Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneral home.com.
