MARY "Cassie" GAUSS

GAUSS MARY CATHERINE GIBSON GAUSS "Cassie" (Age 92) Of Bon Air, VA, died May 12, 2017, at the Bon Secours Community Hospice House. She died of a stroke sustained the last night of a lovely weekend celebration of her birthday and Mother's Day combined, with her three children. That last night, she had a second piece of birthday cake and ice cream, went to bed happy, never fully regained consciousness, and died four days later. Cassie was born on April 12, 1925, Easter Sunday, in Baltimore, MD, the daughter of Matthew Gibson "Paddy", and Wilhelmina Hamilton Gibson "Minnie". She was raised in Lynchburg, Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland. She attended Eastern High School in Baltimore, and then went on to study at Strayer Business College and art school in Washington, DC. During the post- World War II era, she worked for several years at National Airport in Washington, DC as a ticket agent for American Airlines. In D.C. she re-met her high school sweetheart, Clifton Gauss, whom she married, and started her family. She devoted her life to being a great mother. So many of her childrens' friends told them over the years: "You have such a wonderful mother!" After her divorce in 1972, Cassie moved back to Lynchburg, Virginia to be close to her family. She worked for many years as a dental assistant, and then as a nurses' aide, at Westminister Canterbury in Lynchburg and then in private homes. She used to say, "I will take care of old people until I am so old, someone will have to take care of me." She was wonderful to her patients who truly loved her, and those who knew of her work with them described her as "a great lady". She sustained a catastrophic car accident at the age of 72, early in the morning on the way to take care of her dear patient. Thereafter, she lived with her son, Clif, who took beautiful care of her for the next 20 years. She was a contented and happy soul, and woke up happy and went to bed happy, every day until her death. She will be remembered for her kindness and compassion toward everyone she met, as well as her vivacious personality, her infectious laughter, and her sense of fun. She is predeceased by her beloved sister and brother-in-law, Muriel "Musie" Gibson McCarthy and Maurice T. McCarthy "Pot" of Lynchburg, VA, as well as her dear sister and brother, Patsy Gibson of Baltimore, MD, and Donald Gibson, of Virginia Beach, VA. She is also predeceased by her beloved niece, Judy McCarthy Overacre of Lynchburg, VA and her former husband, Clifton F. Gauss, Jr. of Baltimore, MD. She is survived by her three children, Clifton Gauss, III of Bon Air, VA, Cynthia Gauss and husband Phil Spiller of Rockville, MD, and Sally Gauss Kannemeyer and husband, Derek, of Richmond, VA. She is also survived by her beloved nephew, Maurice McCarthy, "Butch" and his wife Debby of Lynchburg, as well as her nephew-in-law Bill Overacre of Lynchburg, and five great nieces and nephews, Aaron, Jonathan, Debbie, Christina and Joanna, all of whom she dearly loved. Cassie was a whiz at the daily Jumble, which she did every morning without fail, up to the morning she had the stroke. This is for you, Mom: Eolv uyo slawya! Her motto was "Live, Laugh, Love" which she wore always on a necklace. She lived her life to the fullest, with so much kindness, graciousness, and fun. We will all miss her very much. In memory of Cassie and her care of so many elderly patients, a donation to the Bon Secours Hospice would be fitting. Her children are very grateful for their wonderful care of her. In memory of Cassie and her care of so many elderly patients, a donation to the Bon Secours Hospice would be fitting. Her children are very grateful for their wonderful care of her.