A former state senator who represented several northwest North Carolina counties earlier this decade has died.The Rev. Steve Goss died Monday at his home in Boone at age 65. His wife, Phyllis, said Tuesday her husband was diagnosed with cancer in April.Goss was a Democrat elected to the Senate in 2006 and served until 2010, when he lost to Republican and current Sen. Dan Soucek.Goss' 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. He graduated from Appalachian State University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest.Survivors include his wife, two children and five grandchildren.His funeral is Friday at Fletcher Memorial church.