Rainie Goss

Rainie Lee Goss, 95, of Marion, Illinois, passed away October 5, 2026, at Carbondale Memorial Hospital.

She was born January 30, 1931, in Marion to Bill and Alice Fern Howerton. Her father died when she was nine years old. Her mother was left with no income and four young children, including Rainie. Rainie was a “mother,” helping to take care of her siblings for most of her young life.

She was a great mother to her daughters, Rebecca and Nancy, and always welcomed in her home so many of their friends.

Rainie attended various schools in Cherry Valley, Marion, Centralia, and McLeansboro. She was a lifetime member of First Baptist Church in Marion. All who knew her enjoyed her as a true lady and a friend to all.

Rainie was self-taught and became an expert seamstress, making her daughters’ coats and dresses when they were young. She worked alongside her husband for many years in their Goss Appliance business, doing all the accounting and complicated tax work.

She enjoyed many years of traveling, visiting all states except Alaska, and several cruises to the islands and parts of Europe. She really enjoyed dancing to the music of the big bands at the Casa Loma in St. Louis and several summers attending the St. Louis Muny Opera.

Rainie married John Goss 74 years ago (3 months short of 75) on January 11, 1952, in Piggott, Arkansas. He survives her at their home in Marion.

She is also survived by her granddaughters, Kelly Spiller, Paige Spiller, and great-granddaughter Katy Jane Tomlin, all of Carbondale, Illinois; grandsons, Tyler Sears of St. Louis and Tobias Sears of Salem, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews, Ramona Alexander of Clarksville, Tennessee, Danny Bruce Henley of Chicago, Linda Goodale of New Hampshire, and Jimmy Sullins of San Diego.

Rainie was preceded in death by her parents; two daughters, Rebecca Fern Spiller and Nancy Lynne Reynolds, of Marion, Illinois; and her siblings, Barbara Sullins and Harry Howerton of San Diego, and Nancy Ann Henley of Herrin, Illinois.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Blue Funeral Home under the direction of Binkley-Ross. Private family services will be held on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Goddard Chapel. For those wishing to make a memorial in her honor, donations can be directed to the First Baptist Church of Marion, Illinois.

Please visit binkley-ross.com to leave condolences online for the family.