Marjorie Gross

Marjorie Deloris Gross, age 91, of rural Parker, Kansas, died July 17, 2012 at the Life Care Center in Osawatomie. Marjorie was born July 6, 1921 at Conway, Missouri. She was the daughter of Virgil and Vina (Evans) Phillips. She grew up in Long Lane, Missouri and attended school at Flatwoods, Missouri. She was united in marriage to Jack Gross in November of 1940 at Lebanon, Missouri. They made their home in Kansas City, Kansas until 1957. They later moved to rural Linn County, Parker, Kansas. They were the parents of five children and they had also embraced Terry Pickering as their son who was age 17 at the time. Marjorie worked alongside her husband Jack at the Sears Store in Osawatomie which they owned and operated for three years, 1967-1970. She was a homemaker for SRS for 15 years, 1980-1995. She had also worked at the ARC Thrift Store in Garnett where retail items were sold for handicapped children. Marjorie had many hobbies. She loved gardening and growing flowers. She was an "American Picker" before her time, collecting a variety of antique items. She was an excellent speller and an avid reader. Her favorite author was Frank Yerby and her favorite book was "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch". Her husband Jack affectionately called her "The Underdog Advocate" as you could always count on Marjorie to cheer for the underdog. Marjorie had resided at the Life Care Center in Osawatomie for the past three years where she had earned the title of Valentine"s Queen one year. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jack who died June 11, 2008, five brothers Hoford, Lon, Wayborn, Glen, and Virgil Phillips, Jr., and one grandson Eric Bartram. She is survived by her three daughters Brenda Winchester of Nevada, Missouri, Nancy Day of The Woodlands, Texas, and Lorita Longenecker of Parker, Kansas; two sons Aaron Gross of Parker, Kansas and James Gross of Shawnee, Kansas; three sisters Melba Sneed of Tonganoxie, Kansas, Bonnie Ott of Somerville, Tennessee, and Joanne Bjorland of Lamoni, Iowa; 11 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. Pallbearers will be her grandsons Blane Day, Aaron Longenecker, Cary Winchester, Jereme Day, Nathaniel Gross, Chris Woods, and Alex Lapinski. Honorary pallbearers will be Charlie Singer, Carl Roy, and Stanton Adams. Special friends Tammi Conner, Jennifer McMahon, Linda Grosskreutz, and Joe Fowler. Memorials are to the Life Care Center Activity Fund. Memorial contributions may be given to Life Care Center Activity Fund. To share a memory of Marjorie or leave a special condolence message for her family, please click the Send a Message button above.