Jerry Clyde Goss
October 20, 1930 - March 6, 2018
Jerry Clyde Goss, Artist, passed away March 6, 2018, Benicia, California, after more than 12 years of poor health. He was 87 years old, born October 20, 1930 in Osceola, Mississippi County, Arkansas to Clyde and Jamie Ussery Goss.
As an Eagle Scout, Jerry was a master whittler, making gifts for teachers, friends, and family. As Jerry showed a unique artistic ability at an early age, he was able to take private art lessons in a neighboring town.
During the war, Jamie moved her two sons to Vallejo, California to live with her sister, Euthe Brown (Boobi) and married Jim Stallings in Vallejo. Jerry Goss graduated from Vallejo High School in 1947, at the age of 16. He was a student at California Arts and Crafts in 1949 when he married Shirley Jensen. He worked as a sign painter for Pischoff Sign Company in San Francisco and in Spokane Washington, enlisting in the Air National Guard in 1950, when he was called to active service from 1951-1953.
Goss took advantage of the GI Bill and went to Otis Art School in Los Angeles, ultimately earning his MFA. After graduation, Jerry taught at Chouinard Art Institute and gave private lessons at his studio in Los Angeles. He also worked at Hughes Aircraft as a model maker, and constructed metal, wood and mixed media murals for restaurants, banks, and commercial spaces.
Ultimately, Goss became disillusioned and exhausted, moving back to Benicia in 1969. His mother, owned the Liberty Cleaners on First Street, and maintained a home on West K Street, Benicia. Jerry rented studio space in the Benicia Arsenal between the Camel Barns. Here he built a foundry and kiln, casting bronze sculpture with Pam Dixon. Goss was a master craftsman. Proficient as a metal worker, wood worker, painter, sculptor and printmaker. Goss mixed colors for his neighbor Wayne Carlson, wallpaper manufacturer. Jerry always maintained his studios as a meeting place for artists to gather and to draw from the figure. As friend and teacher to many Benicia artists, Jerry contributed greatly to the Art Legacy here in Benicia.
Although travel terrified him, he managed to drive his “49 GMC carry all the way to Mexico, and back…that’s over 2000 miles! There he taught sculpture and drawing in San Miguel de Allende at the Bellas Artes Academy of Art, between 1979-1981. Jerry had many problems; congenital loss of hearing, which isolated him and also serious emotional problems including dementia.. Still, he had many friends. Wayne and Joyce Carlson invited him along on many exciting flights around the country and Mexico, and also drove him into town at the start of the Symphony Season. In1986 Goss traveled with Jackie Dubois on a European jaunt; Belgian, France, Spain, and Holland. Of course ‘ART’ was the agenda, as it was was for for Pam and Jerry as they free-lanced around the Bay Area, painting murals for restaurants and taking commissions from clients.
With the death of his mother, the last years of Jerry’s life were consumed with completing his art studio and restoration of his 1949 GMC carryall. Robert Kearns assisted in these tasks, as well as being Jerry’s caregiver. Jerry enjoyed 10 years in his art studio and was able to drive his restored truck.
Jerry Goss was preceded in death by his parents Jamie and James Goss and his brother Jimmie Goss. Jerry is survived by his daughter Jennifer (Mimi) Musgrave, (owner of the Crystal Rainbow Rock Shop in Nevada City.), his grand children Julia Goss-Netherby, Tristan Netherby and Piper Netherby Russo, and his great grand children: Oliver Netherby and Hazel Netherby, and two half sisters and a half brother: Glenna Goss, Donnie Goss, and Linda Goss.
Friends of Jerry Goss joined in a simple Ash Scattering Ceremony on the cliffs overlooking the Ninth Street Straits of Benicia. A tiny motor boat swung around the off-shore green buoy releasing Jerry’s ashes and heading back to harbor, Mt. Diablo rising in the distance. Jerry Goss at peace.
Compiled by Robert Kearns and Pam Dixon "ART 94510”