Former State Sen. Steve Goss Dies

The Rev. Steve Goss, a former state senator who represented several northwest North Carolina counties earlier this decade, has died. Goss was a Democrat elected to the Senate in 2006. He served until 2010, when he lost to Republican and current Sen. Dan Soucek.

Goss graduated from Appalachian State University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest.

His career included being a high school teacher and football coach, Baptist missionary to Japan, and church pastor. He was senior pastor at Fletcher Memorial Baptist Church in Jefferson when he died.

His wife, Phyllis, said her husband was diagnosed with cancer in April.

He also leaves behind two children and five grandchildren.

Goss died Monday at his home in Boone. He was 65.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.