Ray H. Gross

Ray was born in beautiful, rural Alabama during the Great Depression, the son of a seamstress and a farmer. He described his 10 years in the oil industry as his favorite experience, where he worked as a roustabout, driller and engineer, traveling the world. In 1959, Ray was recognized for his efforts in speed drilling, and in the 1960s served on Project Mohole, an attempt to drill through the Earth's crust. Ray’s entrepreneurial spirit then led him to open is first car dealership in Morgan City, Louisiana, followed by a second in Franklin, Louisiana. In total, Ray spent almost 50 years working in the automobile industry, finally retiring at age 83.

His children remember Ray through a series of vignettes, which demonstrated his personality values.

He frequently visited his parents in Alabama, returning from these visits with “Alabama Fever,” a phrase coined by his children. “Alabama Fever” described Ray’s return to the old ways: frugal living; no waste; hard work; and perseverance.

Ray was voted best dressed and best dancer in high school. Until his last year of life, Ray sported collared dress shirts, dress pants, a bow tie and suspenders, sometimes wearing a wool beret, and always carrying a well-worn briefcase.

A Dale Carnegie course left a lasting impression on Ray. Upon completion of the course, he was presented with a marble-type ball with the words “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.” Ray carried this token in his pants pocket, often twirling it between his fingers, until one day he presented the token to his eldest child.

Knowledge, especially knowledge of people, was a lifelong quest for Ray. It is said, “Ray never met a stranger,” as he would start a new conversation anywhere. He loved meeting and learning about people and kept notebooks of his conversations; we believed he learned from observation and other people.

Throughout his life, Ray sought to perfect his actions and his mind. He created, or discovered, mantras to live by, including: KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid; the Serenity prayer; and the Best is Yet to Come.

He is survived by five children and their spouses, Ellen Gross Hetherington (Pete), Susan Ann Gross (Daniel Boutte), Mary Gross Cherry (Adam), Ray Daniel Gross (Mary Dawson), and John David Gross (Merik Spiers), in addition to twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Ray’s wife, Barbara Bienvenu Gross, followed him to heaven on August 15, 2024; they were married 67 years. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Barbara Gross Sauce, and his parents, Charlie Ray Gross and Ellen Jane Herren Gross.

A funeral Mass, for Ray and his wife Barbara, will be held at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church, St. Martinville, Louisiana, on August 29, 2024 at 1:00 pm.