Edward John Gaus III , age 57, passed away Friday, December 30, 2022, in Franklin, West Virginia as the result of a logging truck accident. He is survived by his wife, Amy Gaus, of Franklin. He was the son of Agnes and Edward Gaus II.

Ed had a big personality and was a big guy – 6'4" – with piercing blue eyes, a quick smile, a
booming voice and an infectious laugh. Ed could adapt to any environment – using his instincts, physical strength and know-how both on the water in any sized craft or on land where he was embracing his new life as a mountain man.

Whether Ed was working in his beloved West Virginia mountain garage or exercising other
practical skills with friends in a pub – he was above all else a loyal man with three loves: his
family, friends and country.

Ed was born in Douglaston, Queens, New York and spent his childhood years in Manhasset,
New York. He once wrote he, "grew up on the beaches and waterways of Manhasset, Port
Washington and Mattituck, Long Island," where he enjoyed many adventures and made lifelong friends.

Ed was a graduate of St. Mary's High School in Manhasset, New York, and enlisted in the Marines at the age of 18 where he served as a "Dragon Gunner", an anti-tank weapons specialist, before returning to college and graduating from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. He was a patriot through and through and was proud to be able to serve and protect his country and fellow countrymen, putting the Marine Corps – his "destiny" as he once said – before his own college education.

In his high school and post-college years, Ed loved sailing the Long Island Sound and Block Island Sound on the boats, "Kamikaze" and "Equinox." Ed taught himself how to assemble or repair nearly any mechanical device imaginable, including his cherished 1968 Dodge Charger.

He was perpetually active and even braved clouds of black flies during summer in order to bike 800 miles across Alaska.

In the late 1990's Ed moved to Virginia where, in 2004, he met the love of his life, Amy, at the dog park. They married July 4, 2009. The Dog Park Family became a lasting part of Ed and Amy's life.

After several years of enjoying a second home in West Virginia, Ed, Amy and their pups, moved permanently to High Valley where Ed expanded his gardening and homesteading. While transitioning to their new surroundings, Ed characteristically developed another group of close friends, the mountain family of High Valley and loved mountain life and all the cool stuff that came with it. He got immense joy out of the 4-wheeler, log splitter and chainsaws, and was so proud of his vintage Ford truck that won 2nd place in the local county fair's annual parade.

In his final service to his country, from 2010-2022 Ed supported the American effort in the war on terrorism, working for the U.S. Department of State in International Narcotics and Law Enforcement in Washington, DC, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Colombia, among many other posts around the world.

Ed was honest, loyal and hardworking with a tremendous sense of humor, a constant yearning to be outdoors and an irrepressibly positive outlook on life rooted in true, unconditional love.

In addition to his wife and mother, Ed is survived by sisters MaryEllen Grimm, Regina Gaus, Maureen Gaus, brother Billy Gaus, nieces and nephews Meghan, Kevin, Bryan, Sean, and Owen Grimm, Regan and Julie McCooey, and Maureen Kade, countless friends he considered family and of course the four loyal pups that were Ed and Amy's everything – Jack, Sam, Rosie and Ava.

In honoring Ed's wishes, his body will be cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held on
Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. preceded by visitation from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Basagic Funeral Home in Franklin, WV, with Military Funeral Honors conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pendleton County EMS or Volunteer Fire Company. Memories and words of comfort may be left at www.basagic.com or on Facebook at Basagic Funeral Home.