Franklin "Guy" Gause, Sr.

Franklin “Guy” Gause, Sr., 92, of Mascoutah, Illinois, passed away on March 31, 2026.

Born April 30, 1933, in Scranton, South Carolina, Guy was the son of the late John Flemming “Bub” Gause and Tula Collins Gause. He was raised in the High Hill community of South Carolina, where he grew up in a large farming family. His early life was marked by hard work and humble beginnings, plowing fields with a mule and walking barefoot to school were simply part of daily life. Like several of his siblings, Guy answered the call to serve his country at the first opportunity.

Guy proudly served in the United States Air Force, retiring after 26 years of dedicated service. Following his military career, he continued his commitment to service through the United States Postal Service, where he worked for 22 years before retiring.

Above all else, Guy loved his family. He cherished time spent with his children and grandchildren, taking great pride in each of them. He was known for his sense of humor, especially when it came to his favorite pastime, turkey hunting often joked that he managed to provide “the most expensive turkey on the Thanksgiving table.”

Guy was also a lifelong volunteer and an active member of the Shriners, where he brought joy to many as a clown in parades, sharing laughter and community spirit wherever he went.

He is survived by his children: Kevin Gause and his wife Jacque; Shannon Gause Berkheimer and her husband David, along with their children Troy and Kylie; and Franklin Guy Gause, Jr. and his wife Megan Greathouse Gause, along with their child, Z. "Salem" Greathouse Gause.

He was preceded in death by his beloved life partner, Sally Jean Plew; his parents; his brothers, Webster “Vincent” Gause, Delone “Collins” Gause, John “Junior” Gause, Herbert “Ryan” Gause, and Stanton Gause; and his sisters, Avis Wallace, Claire Gennaro, Bleecker Godwin, and Jewell G. Hoefer.

The family will receive friends on Friday, April 10, 2026, beginning at 2:00 PM at the Gause Family Farm, 905 West Camp Branch Road, Scranton, SC 29591.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Carolina Funeral Home Chapel in Scranton, South Carolina. Burial with full military honors and Masonic rites will follow at Lake City Memorial Park.

Guy’s life was one of service, dedication, humor, and deep love for his family. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.

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