The Huntsville Item
HUNTSVILLE — Peacefully in her sleep, Essie Mae Warr Goss was lifted into the arms of her Savior on Tuesday, March 9, 2010. She was born Dec. 16, 1920, to Emma Lee and James David Warr in Sabine County (Bronson), Texas. Tay, as she was known to her family, was proud of being born in the year women gained the right to vote, a right she never failed to exercise.
Tay was always a very strong and independent woman. She began working, supporting herself at 13. She was a real life “Rosie the Rivoter” during WWII, working as a welder for Hughes Tool Company. She retired as a pioneer of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company after 25 years of service. She also worked for JC Penney’s and Wal-Mart during her retirement years.
Tay was a devoted mother and pillar of strength for her whole family. She not only raised her only child, Paula, but also adopted and raised Paula’s three daughters: Priscilla, Starr, and Jo. She loved sewing crafts of all kinds and gardening. She also loved her church and church family wherever she attended, most recently at University Heights Baptist Church in Huntsville.
Tay was preceded in death by her only natural daughter Paula Stanley Goodwin; husband of 21 years, William H. (Bob) Goss; mother and father; sisters, Joyce Gidley and Pearl Swindell; brothers, Jake C. Warr, Ray Warr, R.Q. Thompson and Earl Thompson. She was also preceded in death by granddaughter and adopted daughter, Lillian Joyce (Lil Jo) Brandon and grandson Jerod Talbert.
She will be greatly missed by those she leaves behind: daughters, Priscilla Blevins and husband Anthony of Huntsville and Starr Hawkins and husband Buddy of Austin; granddaughters, Bobbie Jean Baker and husband Jim of Spring, Paula Blevins Richards and husband Mark, Olivia Blevins Powell and husband Kevin, Amanda Blevins Deardorff and husband Steven, Bethany Stevens and husband Rick, Joanna Hawkins, and Janna Lehe and husband Erich; grandsons, Jeremy Talbert, Joshua Talbert, Jonathan Brandon, Aaron Hawkins and wife Latitia, Justin Hawkins and wife Sara; and eight great-grandchildren. Tay is also survived by her sister, Joaunice and husband Eddy Harrison; brothers, Bill and Lloyd Thompson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Many thanks go out to Dr. Nabeel Khan and his staff, the staff at Huntsville Memorial Hospital, and A-Pineywoods Home Health Care and Hospice.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, 2010, at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 12, 2010 at the funeral home. Interment will be at 3 p.m. at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston.
Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com
