Raymond Leon Gross, age 68, passed away at his home on January 17, 2014. He was born on September 19, 1945 in Hays, Kansas the son of Ruben and A. Elaine Smith Gross.

He was a welder, well known for the cattle handling equipment he fabricated and as a rancher he bred and produced Longhorn cattle. He was a United States Army Veteran having served during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ransom, the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America, NRA, and the Local 669 Fire Protection Sprinkler Fitters Union. On June 17, 1971 he married Barbara Taylor in Benkelman, Nebraska.

He is survived by two sons, Morgan Gross of Greeley, Colorado, Dustin Gross and his wife Jamie of Brownell, Kansas; two daughters, Wendi Chapin of Platteville, Colorado, Jessica Powers and her husband Rick of Greeley, Colorado; two brothers, Terry Gross, Marvin Gross and his wife Denise all of Bazine; two sisters, Nadine Hinnergardt and her husband Stan of Burdett, Kansas, Debbie Munsch of Hays, Kansas and 7 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Ron Munsch.

Funeral service will be on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, 10:00 A.M. at the First Baptist Church, Ness City. Burial will follow in the Bazine Cemetery. Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City on Monday, January 20, 2014 from 9:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M.

Contributions may be given to the National Federation for the Blind, the VFW of Ransom, or the First Baptist Church, Ness City.

Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family by clicking on the "sign guestbook" link above.