Iris Carol Joy Guss

December 25, 1927 – June 20, 2017

She was captain and commander of her own ship. At least one of her many practical jokes made national news. Her sense of style transcended time. Named in part for her Christmas birthday, she loved her family passionately and celebrated holidays with gusto. As much as was possible, she lived life on her own terms.

Iris Carol Joy was born in 1927 in Green River, WY to Sidney Duane and Callie Mae Joy and into a large extended family connected to ranching and the railroad. Her older sister and father died before Iris was 14; she and her mother made a small, loving household. Full of adventure, she headed to Salt Lake City to attend St. Mary’s of the Wasatch and became a nurse; in the process she converted to Catholicism. While there she met Abe Guss, on a blind date no less. They married in 1948 and began a life of shared ventures that included four children, lots of travel, and an extensive social circle.

She loved to entertain, needlepoint, read, and garden. As children grew up and married, she was thrilled to welcome (great) grandchildren whom she could pamper and delight, with unexpected gifts to sparkle the imagination. She persevered through many challenges, never losing her determination to have things be done a certain way.

Widowed after nearly 49 years of marriage, Iris made a new life rich with friends and experiences—continuing in Salt Lake and then moving to Houston in 2008. She enjoyed family and friends, particularly those associated with the chapel of St. Basil at the University of St. Thomas.

Iris rejoined Abe on Tuesday evening, June 20, 2017 surrounded by family. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

The Funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday, June 27th, 2017 at 3:30pm in the Chapel of St. Basil, on the campus of the University of St. Thomas, 1018 W. Alabama St. Houston TX 77006.

Mom was enough of a flower, thus memorial contributions to Campus Ministry at the University of St. Thomas or the Houston Area Parkinson Society will be appreciated.

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