Elaine Marie Guss, 65, of Fort Scott, died at 10:56 p.m. on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at Mercy
Hospital in Joplin, Mo. Elaine was born on June 16, 1959 at Santa Monica, Calif., to Vernon and
Katherine Guss. She moved to Fort Scott when she was eight years old and lived the rest of her
life in Bourbon County. She graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1978. From her union with
Michael Harper, Elaine had four wonderful children: Candy Turner, Michael Harper, Dustin
Harper and Scott Harper all of Fort Scott. Elaine regularly attended Grace Baptist Church, and
she enjoyed spending time with her grandkids. She wasn’t afraid to carry on a conversation with
anyone, and she never knew a stranger. She looked forward to trips to Branson with her mother.
She also enjoyed cooking and baking for her family.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Katherine Guss and a sister, Maryann
Martin. She is survived by her children, Candy, Michael (Amy), Dustin (Alison) and Scott; three
brothers, Stuart (Carla) Guss, Bruce Guss and Roy Guss; seven grandkids, Courtney Harper, Lily
Harper, Landon Turner, London Turner, Charlee Harper, E la Harper and Memphis Harper; and
numerous nieces and nephews.

Rev. Paul Rooks will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, January 8th at the
Grace Baptist Tabernacle. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive
friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the
Elaine Guss Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O.
Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook
at cheneywitt.com.