Roger Gossard

Roger Leon Gossard died on October 10, 2025, spending his last weeks surrounded by love, laughter, and family. Roger was born on November 30, 1944 in Coffeyville, Kansas, to Violet Evans Gossard and Richard Gossard. The family welcomed Nancy in 1951, and a lifelong, loving sibling relationship began. Roger enjoyed an idyllic childhood playing with neighborhood friends. He had many beloved pets, including a raccoon named Judy. He developed a love of nature at a young age that remained until his final days.
Roger met Betty Lou Hunt in the 4th grade. It was love at first sight for Roger. It took a little longer to convince Betty, but they eventually began dating the summer before their sophomore year. The high school sweethearts dated for 7 years and married on August 25, 1967.
Roger attended Field Kindley Memorial High School, graduating with the class of 1962. Roger played football and baseball and sang in the choir. Roger and Betty planned class reunions for years and kept in touch with many classmates.
After one year as a student at Coffeyville Community College, Roger transferred to the University of Oklahoma, beginning a lifelong love affair with OU sports, especially football and softball. While at OU, he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity and received his Bachelor of Arts degree. He went on to receive a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1969 and, after completing basic training and officers' school, served in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps. Roger completed his active duty service in 1974 and continued his service in the Air Force Reserves until his retirement in 2004 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Roger was a very involved dad to Jennifer, Jeff, and Jamie. He coached sports teams, judged at debate tournaments, and chaperoned many youth group trips. Along with Betty, Roger attended every sporting event, play, band concert, and award ceremony for his children and grandchildren.
Roger was a lifelong Boy Scout, earning the rank of Eagle at the age of 12. As an adult, he became a Scoutmaster, mentoring many youth in the community. Roger loved fishing and camping, both during the monthly troop campouts and also the annual summer camps or trips to canoe the Boundary Waters with his scouts. He received the Silver Beaver Award, the highest recognition for an adult volunteer leader in Boy Scouts, given for distinguished service and noteworthy efforts to youth.
Roger was a practicing attorney and a partner in the law firm, Becker, Hildreth, Eastman, and Gossard. He was well respected by both colleagues and clients. In addition to his general law practice, Roger served as a legal advisor and advocate in countless private adoptions. He was proud of that effort and loved receiving cards and pictures from the families he served. He served as a judge for the Fourteenth Judicial District in Kansas from 2003 to 2015 and was appointed as the chief judge in 2009. After serving as a judge, Roger returned to practice law part-time until his full retirement in December 2024.
Roger was a lifelong member and steadfast volunteer of the First United Methodist Church in Coffeyville. He was also a member of the Coffeyville Kiwanis Club and served on the boards of the American Red Cross, Havana Lake, and the Coffeyville Public Library.
Roger's faith in God and loyalty to his family were the hallmarks of his life on earth. He also found great pleasure in reading a good book and enjoying a tasty meal. The family finds peace in the knowledge that he has joined Betty in everlasting life.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Betty. He is survived by his children, Jennifer (Jen) Hanson and fiance Ed Limbaugh of Dallas, Texas, Jeff and Tara Gossard of Coffeyville, Jamie and Justin Murdock of Cookeville, Tennessee. Grandchildren Grace and Grant Hanson; Elly, Emma and Campbell Gossard; Gavin and Macy Thompson; and Finley (Finn), Peyton, and Camryn Murdock. His sister, Nancy Gossard and Susan Hoffman. Sisters in law Gail and Doug Misch, and Lee and Jeff Martin. And his beloved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and other extended family.
The family would like to extend special thanks to the many caregivers who filled Roger's last months with extra TLC and good humor: Sarah, Jeanetta, Michelle, Tanisha, Maria, Louise, Beth, Pastor Randy, Pastor Yves and the staff and volunteers of The Journey Home in Dewey, OK.
The family requests memorials to one of the following: First United Methodist Church of Coffeyville, the Coffeyville Public Library, or The Journey Home in Dewey, OK. Services will include a Time of Visitation on Friday, October 24, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and a Celebration of Life on Saturday, October 25 at 10:00 a.m. Both will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 304 W. 10th St., Coffeyville, KS.