Vernon Goss,

A memorial service for Dr Vernon V. Goss, MD, 91, of Tyler will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at the Woods Baptist Church. Officiating will be Dr. Paul Powell. A private burial at Rose Hill Cemetery will precede the service under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Dr. Goss died May 11, 2009 at his home. He has lived in Tyler since 1955. He was born February 7, 1918 in Acadia Parish, LA, to Henry Lee Goss and Victoria Medici Goss. He graduated from high school at the Acadia Baptist Academy and Louisiana State University Medical School in 1943. He was married to Louise Elizabeth Chitwood in 1943. Dr. Goss served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1944-1946. Six years of General Practice in Springhill, Lake Charles and Eunice, LA followed. He then completed a residency in Ophthalmology at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, LA from 1952-1955. HE moved to Tyler in 1955 and was Board Certified in 1956. He was a member of national, state and county medical associations and enjoyed a practice in Ophthalmology from 1955 until retirement in 1982. He served a term as president of the ETMC Hospital staff and as a member of the Smith County Medical Society Executive Committee. Dr. Goss’s community service included board member and president of Tyler Independent School District 1971-1986, Smith County Appraisal Board 1982-2005 and Meals on Wheels for 16 years. He served as a deacon while attending Green Acres and Woods Baptist Churches. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge since 1948. Vernon was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a licensed aircraft pilot and enjoyed taking family and friends for rides. He was always interested in physics and the mechanics of “how things work.” He also pursued his interest in Bible study throughout his adult life. Survivors include daughters, Linda Hazelton and husband Court of Tyler and Irene Werner and husband Robert of Massachusetts; granddaughter Hannah Werner of Massachusetts; sister Myrza Evans of Bryan,; sisters-in-law Amy Jo Chitwood of Frisco and Hazel Gross of Oklahoma City, OK. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Louise, seven brothers, one sister and both parents. Honorary Pallbearers will be Michael Barnett, Rick Chitwood, Charles Dodson, Larry Evans, Charles Harrell, Calvin Millington, Tom Musslewhite, Bill Newton, Jim Plyer, Mike Powell, Rev. Weldon Viertel and members of the Men’s Sunday School Class of Woods Baptist Church. The family would like to recognize Dr. Richard Anderson, MD, Patricia Eaker, Gail Ford, Kathy Ford, Darline McCraw, the medical staff of ETMC Home Care and Hospital and the medical staff and volunteers at Hospice of East Texas for their kindness, care and support for Dr. Goss. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Woods Baptist Church, 4502 University Blvd, Tyler, TX 75701; Meals on Wheels, 1915 Garden Valley Road, Tyler, TX 75701 or Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd. Tyler, TX 75701.

Vernon Goss,

February 7, 1918 - May 11, 2009