Anna Marie (Blakey) Goss
Harrisonville, MO

Anna Marie Goss, 78, Harrisonville, Mo, formerly of Ava, Mo. Died Sunday, October 28, 2007 at Camden Care Center in Harrisonville, Missouri.

Anna was born May 8, 1929 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 told of getting hard rock candy for Christmas and riding a horse to school. She loved to go fishing with her Dad and learned to bake the best pies from her Mother. She told of many days spent picking up rocks on the old home place at Rome, using an outhouse, salting down pork in the smokehouse and filling the cellar with fruits and vegetables for the winter. It was a simple but happy time for her. She cherished growing up in a large loving family.

Anna attended the Walnut Grove School. She graduated from Ava High School with the class of 1947. Anna married John E. Goss, Sr. on September 15, 1948 in Mountain Home, Arkansas. 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 enjoyed attending Blue Grass 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, Mo., brothers, Clarence Blakey, Basil Blakey and Howard Blakey, all of the Ava area and sisters Blanche Ostrom, California, Nellie Rosseau, Ava and Joyce Rackley, KCMO.

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, KS, 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and many relatives in the Ava area.

Pallbearers: Grandsons, John D. Goss, Jeffrey Goss, Steven Goss, William S. Wright, Larry D. Hetherington, and Brian Hetherington.

Honorary pallbearers: Grandchildren, Thomas E. Wright, Clint Hetherington, Joshua Davis, Jason Goss, Amy Safe, Paula Vergouven, and
Janelle Vergouven.

Service is Thursday, 2:00 p.m., Nov. 1, 2007 in the Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, MO with the Rev. Tom Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in the Springcreek Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Alzheimer's Foundation or the Spring Creek Cemetery Fund. Visitation will be Thursday 1:00 p.m. to service time. Services are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, MO.