Raymond C. Guss

Raymond C. Guss, Sr., 73, of Calhoun, Georgia, formerly of Coal Valley, Illinois, passed on Thursday, November 21, 2013, at his home, with his wife of 54 years, Margaret, by his side.

Services are 11 a.m. Saturday in the Celebration of Life Chapel at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Coal Valley. Burial is in Greenview Memorial Gardens, East Moline. Visitation is 3 to 7 p.m. Friday. Memorials may be made to the family toward a future memorial.

Ray was born on February 28, 1940, in Rock Island, Illinois, the son of Robert Sr. & Leona Ostrand Guss. Following retirement from Case IH, Ray moved to Calhoun. He raced late model stock cars successfully for many years and continued to be a mentor to his son, Ray Jr.'s racing career. He thoroughly enjoyed restoring old cars and nothing was a challenge for him. He loved conversation about his hobby and was always willing to share photos of his talented work.

Surviving are his wife, Margaret; son and daughter-in-law, Ray, Jr. and Julie Guss of Milan, Illinois; daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Jim Smith of Calhoun; grandsons, Jason, Evan and Adam Guss; brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert Jr. and Deanna Guss of Moline, and Alan and Donna Guss of East Moline; sisters and brother-in-law, Barb Allen of Coal Valley and Annette and Earl Anderson of Moline; mother-in-law, Delores Ghys of Coal Valley; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Betty and Dick Welsh of Colona. Ray was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Paul Guss; sister-in-law, Lola Guss; brother-in-law, Laverne Allen; and father-in-law, Frank Ghys.

Ray's family invites friends to share stories and condolences and light a candle in his memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.