LITTLE DEER ISLE – Byron L. Gross, 64, went out in his boat, the Ruby G, to bring in a load of traps, Oct. 27, 2007, and never made it back home. He was born Nov. 15, 1942, at the home of his future grandmother-in-law in South Deer Isle, the son of Damon W. and Ruby A. (Sylvester) Gross. He graduated from Stonington High School, Class of 1961. He continued to lobster with his father until shortly after marrying Linda J. Powers, then moving to Millinocket, where he worked at Great Northern Paper mill for five years. In 1972, he and his wife moved to Little Deer Isle where they owned and operated Gross’s General Store for 30 years. In recent winters, he had built traps at Downeast Fishing Gear. But what made him the happiest was the sea and lobstering. Even as a boy, when he was too young to tend his traps alone, his mother would go with him. He was a kind and gentle soul, though he might have been small in stature, he was big of heart and very much-enjoyed helping anyone in need. He also, enjoyed walking his dog, Dutchess. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Linda; his three daughters, Janet Trundy and her husband, Rick, of Deer Isle, Heidi Robinson and her husband, Noel, of Trenton, and Hilary Gross and her boyfriend, Lance Friend, of Little Deer Isle; three grandchildren, Devon, Cortney and Nick Trundy of Deer Isle; his mother-in-law, Beryl Powers of Little Deer Isle; seven sisters-in-law, Ethelda Eaton and Karyl Eaton of Stonington, Cheryl Robinson and her husband, Richard – also Byron’s childhood friend and partner in mischief, Annette Wheaton and her husband, Robert, Barbara Hutchinson and her husband, Tim, all of Little Deer Isle, Dale Robbins and her husband, Dewey, of Deer Isle, and Ann Evans and her husband, Dewey, of Bena, Va.; two brothers-in-law, Norman Billings and his wife, Norma, of Woolwich and David Powers and his life partner, Glenn Watson, of Griffin, Ga.; several aunts and cousins, and many nieces and nephews; and two special nephews, Brian Gross and his wife, Michelle, and Damon Gross and his wife, Amanda, of Virginia. He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Wayne Gross; his father-in-law, John Powers; sister-in-law, Brenda Billings; and a niece, Genice Hutchinson. Memorial services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at Community of Christ Church, North Deer Isle. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to may make a donation to the Deer Isle Fire Department or Downeast Emergency Medicine Institute Search and Rescue, P.O. Box 268, Orono, ME 04473.
BYRON LEWIS GROSS
