Obituary from The Wrangell Sentinel - Friday, March 30, 1951: WM. L. GROSS, SR. DIED HERE EASTER MORNING. William Lee Gross, Sr. passed away here in Wrangell last Sunday, Easter morning, at the age of 66. He had not been well since just before Christmas. Gross was born in Uniopolis, Ohio July 27, 1884. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served with it in the Philippine Islands about 1905. He first came to Alaska as Port Engineer for the City of Ketchikan in 1913 and served as engineer on boats at Hydaburg, Craig, Klawock and other West Coast towns. He was married to Bessie Nickerson at Klawock in 1917 and the couple made their home on the West Coast and up the Stikine River before settling in Wrangell 23 years ago. In 1919 Mr. and Mrs. Gross aided in the evacuation of the Mariposa when the steamer was wrecked. Then for two years they acted as watchmen on the wreck. While in Wrangell Gross was mechanic and head machinist for the old Diamond K cannery and machinist at the Wrangell sawmill. He has also been a commercial fisherman. Funeral services were held last Tuesday afternoon from the Presbyterian Church after the arrival of son, Harvey, who obtained an emergency furlough from the army at Fort Richardson. Pallbearers were George Smith, Frank Young, Richard Stokes, Jack Stokes, George Kuntz and Louie Wigg. Interment was in the Wrangell Memorial Cemetery. Gross is survived by his father, Stephen D. Gross, and sister, Mrs. Helena Doil, both in Pittsburg, California; two brothers, Harvey and Douglas and two half brothers, Edward and Bert, all in Michigan; his wife Bessie, sons William, Daniel, Douglas and Harvey and daughter, Mrs. Robert Wickman, and eight grandchildren, all in Wrangell.