1941-2003

BROOKINGS, Ore. – Barbara Ann Dragroon Gossett, 61, of Brookings, Ore., died July 30, at her home, following a long illness of ovarian cancer.

Born in Rumford, Nov. 22, 1941, a daughter of Benedict A. and Stella J. (Majeikus) Dragoon, she was a granddaughter of Lithuanian immigrants.

She was raised and educated in Rumford, where she was active in 4-H and helped in the family orchard and ice business.

She was famous for hosting teen skating parties on the family ice pond. During the summers she worked as a hostess at Kennebunkport resorts. She graduated from Stephens High School in 1960 and was a member of the National Honor Society.

She graduated with honors from Duke University in 1964, where she majored in math and Russian languages, including a summer term in Russia. She taught school in New Jersey, studied computer science and then worked at Sea Land, later at Bristol Meyers as a program manager. She moved to the west coast in 1979.

In 1983, she met her new husband, Eldon M. Gossett and she became a partner and broker in his real estate firm. The Gossetts were married on Oct. 16, 1986 in Rumford and made their primary home in Brookings, Ore.

She is survived by her husband, Eldon M. Gossett; her stepmother, Josephine Dragoon of Rumford; stepchildren, Rhonda Brosius of Derby, Kan., and Greg Gossett and his wife, Terri of Mulvane, Kan.; a brother, Robert Dragoon and his wife, Mary Anne of Hanover; a sister, Virginia Dragoon Todd and her husband, Marshall of Rumford; aunts, Stella Dragoon of Rumford and Hilda Dragoon of Peru; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.