Bill Goss

Billy “Bill” Neill Goss joined his parents in Heaven on February 12, 2025, after living life to the fullest.

Not many people can say they have survived 5 cancers, but more amazingly, Bill refused to let cancer alter his life and he lived without worry. It was his attitude and words such as, “it is what it is” and “just work your way through it”, while finding joy throughout each day, that was so inspiring to experience with him. Bill also used his cancer experience to give others hope. Whether it be offering guidance to join the MD Anderson “family” or meeting with newly diagnosed cancer men and women, he always offered them help to walk through their cancer journey.

Bill was born on September 29, 1951, to Neill Goss and Mary Massie Goss in Waco, Texas. There was one major focus as a child and that was sports, especially baseball. Whether it was listening to a ball game on the radio, attending live games, or playing games, Bill was “all in”, along with his parents as his support team. Bill’s talent in baseball led him to win many trophies, play baseball in college (McLennan Community College and Baylor University), and more importantly develop life-long friendships.

His passion for baseball and desire to help others led Bill to volunteer for twenty years as a little league coach. He shared his years of knowledge and experience of the sport with all players, ranging from those who just wanted to have fun to those that played professionally.

Bill believed in and understood the importance of McLennan Community College, saying it is “the open door for everyone and leads to unlimited opportunities”. Taking his passion for baseball, his meaningful experience playing baseball at MCC, and his understanding of how MCC can be a steppingstone for so many, Bill started the first MCC golf fund-raiser event with proceeds to help the college players. That same event has brought in $2-3 million for students over its 40 years and is still in existence today. Bill’s message was always “just do what you can in gifting and that gift keeps giving and giving and giving”.

He also agreed to be chair of a bond election committee that was successful in creating new buildings and opportunities for learning on the MCC Campus. Bill donated his time to various community boards, including the Optimist Club and especially enjoyed the MCC Foundation, knowing his time and knowledge would benefit others with opening the door of lifelong opportunities. Bill was awarded the MCC Distinguished Alumni Award. Through his generosity, an MCC Presidential scholarship was created in his name which is the gift that keeps giving, still opening doors for many.

Although baseball was his first love, Bill was an avid sports fan, especially when it came to the Dallas Stars. As a season ticket holder and devoted fan for some 30 years, he loved the action of hockey and enjoyed sharing his seats with whomever would join him.
Bill was intrigued by the “financial world’, and some say it was his calling. Bill loved to put commercial investments together. He did so not only for himself but always opened the opportunity to others saying, “Jim Hawkins taught me a long time ago you can help yourself or you can help yourself AND others, and it is always better to help yourself AND others.”

Loving the investment world, Bill helped start an investment club while in his twenties, and that club (consisting mostly of the original members) are still in existence today, some 50 years later. Bill owned and operated South Central Industrial Properties of Texas Inc. until his time of retirement. Bill also used his financial skills on church committees and was elected an Elder at Central Christian Church, serving communion to shut-ins for many years.

After college and many years of banking, Bill met and married Laurie Edgemon, and from that marriage, children Neill and Carolyn were born. Though their marriage was not permanent as they had thought, they remained friends and active in their children’s lives.

Many years later volunteering to serve concessions at the children’s high school sports game, Bill met Sandy Reyna. After five years of dating, they joined in marriage, blending their two families. Two terms describe their last twenty years: loving life and fighting for life. Bill’s cancer diagnosis began soon after the “I do’s,” but that did not stop Bill and Sandy from enjoying and loving life.

Between cancer stents were weeks of hiking, biking, river rafting, snow skiing in the mountains of Colorado, water skiing and hanging out on Lake Waco, and traveling to every bucket list place and event. Becoming grandparents to ten was the highlight of the “loving life” side. Bill and Sandy were a team fighting for life and loving life until “death do us part.”

Bill leaves behind his wife, Sandy; children, Neill Goss (wife Whitney), Carolyn Harper (husband Sam); three stepchildren, Blake Reyna (wife Kacy), Britney Reyna, and Barret Reyna (wife Rose); grandchildren, CeCe, Remington, Everett, Oliver, Gage, Gigi, Justin, Neelie, Zach, and Hayes; brother, Tom Goss (wife Renda); and two nephews, David and Jon. Bill’s gentle and worry-free spirit will be missed but his gifts to all will keep giving.

Visitation will be held at 2:00pm – 4:00pm on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at Central Christian Church, 4901 Lake Shore Drive, Waco, Texas 76710.

A service to celebrate Bill’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd, Waco, Texas 76710

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the McLennan Community College Foundation.