Earl Guss

Earl Milton “Mit” Guss, 86, died Thursday January 5, 2023 at Billings Clinic, in the company of his loving wife Maggie Barovich. Born April 16, 1936, in Mifflintown, PA, Earl is the son of the late Karl B. and Susan Grace (Heisey) Guss. He is survived by his wife Maggie Barovich and dog Duff (Billings, MT), children Andrea Guss (Steve Robischon; Sierra Vista, AZ), Erik Guss (Darlene Martinez; Bozeman, MT) and Kirsten Guss (Carlisle, PA), along with Maggie's children and their grandchildren.

After growing up in Mifflintown at the family Guss Funeral Home, Earl attended Gettysburg College, where he majored in Political Science and was in the Theta Chi fraternity. Following his graduation in 1958, Earl served in the US Army for two years, 1959-1961, being honorably discharged and earning the Good Conduct Medal. In college Earl met Judy, and they married in 1961 and had their three children. In the spirit of fantastic adventure, in 1970 they moved west from Havertown, PA, first to Billings, then in 1973 to the North Fork of the Shoshone River, Wapiti, WY. Budd Hall, Circle H Ranch, taught Earl to cross the ditches in his alfalfa field at an angle by vehicle, a route necessary since the lane to the remote house was drifted shut with snow much of the winter. Earl and Judy operated the Buckin' Horse Gallery in Cody, WY, then Earl opened Frontier Realty in Greybull, WY, while the children attended Wapiti School, and Cody Junior High and High Schools.

Earl and Judy divorced in 1981, and Earl made his way, via many road trips including across the Arctic Circle, to Billings, which he considered home for the past 30+ years. Other adventures included sailing, canoe, rafting, and camping trips, and being one of the founders and continuing influencers of Yellowstone River Parks Association (yrpa.org). Earl sold commercial real estate through various offices and ventures, retiring in 2003. He was a 60-year member of Union Lodge No. 324 F.&A.M. of Pennsylvania at Mifflintown.

Earl and Maggie were set up by mutual friends on St Patrick's Day 2005 and married in 2007. In 2005 a cardiac event necessitated the installation of a pacemaker/defibrillator, and Earl enjoyed an extra 17 years of life, due to great medical care at Burg Cardiac Center coupled with his immense will to live. When he had had enough, Earl was able to make the decision to enter palliative care in January 2023 and he was himself until the end.

Earl was a huge personality and the life of any party, whether he was invited or not. Earl is predeceased by his parents, siblings, other family, and many friends. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, other family, and many friends.

Donations in Earl's memory may be made to yrpa.org; better yet, join and volunteer, and bring your backhoe!

A celebration of life will be held in summer 2023; information on this event will be posted by June 15, 2023 on yrpa.org.

Go carefully, as Dad would say.