John "Rick" Richard Gross

Rick Gross of Vidor, Texas, was born on November 11, 1949 in Beaumont, Texas. He died on April 1, 2023. Rick and his wife of 51 wonderful years, Patrice (Patty) Torres Gross have 9 children, 35 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Rick graduated from Vidor High School in 1968 and is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a Bachelors of Elementary Education, and a Masters in Administration. Rick worked for Vidor I.S.D. for over 30 years as a teacher, an assistant principal, and principal. He spent many of the last years of his educational service as the principal of Vidor Elementary School where he had the amazing ability to make every student and co-worker feel special and loved. In his spare time you could find him working in his yard, playing his banjo or creating wonderful children's stories to share with his grandchildren. Rick was truly one-of-a-kind. His kind and compassionate ways, his unique sense of humor and his Christ-like examples created a legacy that will be remembered and honored by the many lives he touched over the years. Rick is survived by his wife and their children; Chelsey Gross Martin and husband Greg of Los Lunas, New Mexico; Heidi Gross Melton and Kenneth Boutte of Vidor, Texas; Jeremy Gross and wife Chauncie of Seattle, Washington; Joshua Gross and wife Jenny of Belton, Texas; Jacob Gross and wife Lisa of Provo, Utah; Adam, Gross of Shohomish, Washington; Tiffany Gross and husband Randolph Lee of Gainesville, Florida; Eli Gross and wife Paula of The Woodlands, Texas; and Gabriel Gross and wife Katlin of Vidor, Texas. He is also survived by his brothers C. J. (Pepper) Gross Jr. of Nederland, Texas and Michael Lee Gross of San Augustine, Texas; and his sister Kathy Gross Odom of Vidor, Texas. Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Vera and Cova Gross Sr.; his brother, Frank Gross and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Alvin and Mary Torres. There will be a visitation at Vidor Memorial Funeral Home in Vidor on Friday, April 7, 2023 at 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The funeral service will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Vidor at 10:00 am Saturday, April 8, 2023.