Thomas M. Goss Jr.

Thomas M. Goss, Jr. passed away June 16, 2016 AD, at age 94, from complications of congestive heart failure, but only after an extraordinarily long life filled with both blessings and challenges. His current assignment is to now "guard the gates of Heaven" as a US Marine, recalled to active duty, but in the next world since he is no longer in this one. Tom, who formerly resided in Pearland Texas, lived in The Williamsburg Senior Community in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the past two years. Tom was born in Yonkers, New York, 26 August 1921 to Thomas M. Goss Sr. and Margaret Chisholm Goss. His ancestry was a mixture of English, Welsh, Scottish, and French-German. Tom enlisted in the US Marine Corps right after Pearl Harbor to join the fight against the Japanese Empire in World War II. He saw extensive combat duty in Guadalcanal. He returned from the war to marry Earline Ola Priest on 21 September 1944. Following his discharge from the USMC in October 1945, Tom went to work for the American Can Company. Tom was always the natural leader and people liked him. He ran for City Council in New Jersey. He created the North Edison Little League organization in the mid-1950s, and then served as the President the next five years. Tom was promoted within Canco and the family moved to Houston where he quickly became a "naturalized Texan" complete with boots and cowboy hat. He loved playing golf and was a near scratch golfer in his prime. Tom retired in 1975 but continued to apply his leadership abilities by serving his local community in Pearland. He was later elected President of the Water District and brought these critical services to a new community of retirees. His beloved Earline passed away from leukemia on 12 May 2007.Tom is survived by four children, nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Visitation will be Monday, June 27, 2016, from 5-8PM in the SouthPark Funeral Home, 1310 N Main Street, Pearland, TX 77581. The funeral service will be held Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at 10AM in St. Helen Catholic Church, 2209 Old Alvin Road, Pearland, TX 77581. It will be conducted by the Pastor, Rev. Carl James Courville – i.e., "Father Jim." Burial will be immediately afterward at Forest Lawn Cemetery, 8701 Almeda Genoa Road, Houston, TX 77075. Children: Michael W. Goss, The Villages FL, retired Captain U.S. Navy, and his wife Brenda Few; Gerald T. Goss, Baton Rouge LA, President of Goss Wealth Management, and his wife Devera; Debra Goss Ruley, Austin TX, retired from the Vinson & Elkins law firm, and her husband retired Master Sergeant Roy Barnard, a veteran of Iraq; and Thomas M. Goss, III, Baton Rouge LA, who lovingly cared for his Mother and Father for many years. Grandchildren: Amanda Lee Goss, New Orleans LA; CDR Justin Goss, USN, Springfield VA; Melissa Ann Bridges, Austin TX; Brennan Thomas Ruley, Los Angeles CA; Hilary Goss Lagerwey, Seattle WA; Alex Thomas Goss, New Orleans; Page Goss, New Orleans LA; Blake Ruley, Austin TX; and Matthew Goss, Venice CA. Great-grandchildren: Parker Stephen Bridges, Austin TX; Ryan Rhodes Carrigan, New Orleans LA; Bennett W. Lagerwey, Seattle, WA; Thomas M. Goss IV, Springfield VA; Peyton Bridges, Austin TX; Finn Collier Lagerwey, Seattle WA; and Orla Clare Goss, Springfield VA. Another baby, Arthur Theodore, is "on the way" expected to arrive this September.