Doris Jean Guss, 86, Harrisonville, MO, died Monday, June 13, 2011 at Golden Years Care Center in Harrisonville. Funeral services 1:00 p.m. Thursday, June 16, 2011 at the Atkinson Chapel in Harrisonville. Burial in Morris Cemetery, Butler, MO. Friends may call from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the chapel. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the American Diabetes Association or to the Antioch Baptist Church.

Doris Jean Guss, 86, Harrisonville, MO, died Monday, June 13, 2011 at Golden Years Care Center in Harrisonville. Funeral services were held Thursday, June 16, 2011 at the Atkinson Chapel in Harrisonville. Burial was in Morris Cemetery, Butler, MO. The family requests memorial contributions to American Diabetes Association or to Antioch Baptist Church.


Doris was daughter to Fred and Merry (Chandler) Pahlman of Hume, MO, born May 9, 1925. She attended Warrensburg Teachers College where she earned her teaching certificate. She left her career as a school teacher to marry Francis Guss on August 3, 1947. They made their home in Harrisonville in 1958.

Doris and Francis considered their church a real part of their family and were founding members of the Antioch Southern Baptist Church in Harrisonville where they each attended until health made it impossible to continue.

Doris primarily was a housewife with many sidelines, usually working from her home. While working as a babysitter she provided care for Darren and Tabitha Beasley (Talley) for several years and developed a special bond. She also liked to sew, crochet, quilt, and work with flowers.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Francis, a granddaughter, two brothers, Harold and Lewis and three sisters, Elizabeth Kedigh, Beulah Hogue and Frances. She is survived by her children, Fred Guss of Oakland, CA; Meryline Kramer and her husband, Vance of Harrisonville, MO and Earlene McAnaw and her husband, Mike of Kansas City, MO; and many family members of her sisters.