Reverend Raymond L. Gass, resident of Winter Garden, FL., died on February 16, 2020, at Cornerstone Hospice in Ocoee, FL. Rev. Gass was born September 30, 1933, in Kansas City, Mo. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cleo and Letha Gass, and his sister Evelyn Arnold Chown. His survivors include his beloved wife of 51 and a half years, Linda of the home, his daughter, Debra (Donald) Thompson of Chillicothe, Mo., his sons, Steven (Jeff Bright) Gass of Dallas, Tx., Scott (Kathleen) Gass of Windermere, Fl., and Dane (Jill) Gass of Sarasota, Fl. Ray is also survived by granddaughters Haley (Byron) Thompson Ruff, Megan Thompson, Sydney Gass, Abigail Gass, and grandson, Ethan Gass. His first great grandchild Aspen Lee Ruff, was born six days before his death. He is also survived by two nieces, Julie (Randy) Langston and Joyce Arnold and great niece, Shannon Arnold.
Rev. Gass graduated from Trenton High School, Trenton, Mo.; National College, Kansas City, Mo.; and St Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Mo. He was an active minister in the United Methodist Church for 43 years. He served churches in Missouri, Colorado, Minnesota, and Florida. He retired from the Florida Conference in 1998, but has played an active role in ministry in the communities where he has lived after retirement. He served the United States Army from 1953 to 1955, was active in community originations, and was an avid outdoorsman.
A memorial service in his honor will be held Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 11:00a.m. at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church 4851 S. Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32819. Memorial gifts may be sent to the church in his honor and will be used for church camping scholarships for children and young people. Graveside services will be held at the Grundy Center Cemetery, Trenton, Mo. In the summer of 2020.