He was born on Dec. 28, 1922, in Fall River to Gilbert C. and Florence C. (Fields) Boss. He grew up in Fall River and graduated from Fredonia High School in 1941.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
On Sept. 23, 1945, he married Jean Clifton at the home of her parents in Parsons. They observed over 67 years of marriage.
Gailord was employed as a guard at the Kansas Ordnance Plant and then was a Parsons fireman for 15 years. In 1971, he and Jean purchased the Frame Office Equipment store and operated it for 20 years. After retirement in 1991, he continued working at the store on a part-time basis for 10 years.
He was a member of First Christian Church and was a life member of the VFW. He was an avid fan of KU and the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a former member of the Masonic Lodge. In past years, he coached youth baseball and helped bring Babe Ruth baseball to Parsons.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Boss of the home; three sons, Gary Boss and his companion, Bonnie Luce, of Carthage, Mo., Doug Boss and his wife, Susie, of Parsons and Ron Boss and his wife, Tammy, of Wichita; seven grandchildren, Nichola Tippet, Tracey Ingleman, Kelley Surma and her husband, Todd, Stephen Boss and his wife, Jordan, Corbett Boss and his wife, Ashley, Tyler Boss and his wife, Nicole, and Ryan Boss; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A brother, Merlyn Boss, preceded him in death.
The service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at First Christian Church. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery, with military honors given by Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church and may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.
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