Dorothy Marie Gassaway

Dorothy Marie Gassaway, age 77, of Gholson, passed away early Tuesday morning, January 27, 2015 at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco. Graveside services will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 2015 at Gholson Cemetery, with Rev. James Stevens officiating. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Aderhold Funeral Home in West. Dorothy was born March 13, 1937 in Ross, the daughter of H. B. and Marie (Brady) Locklar. She attended school in Ross and West, where she was very athletic in basketball and softball. On January 3, 1952 she was united in marriage to Kenneth Earl Gassaway in Ross. Kenneth preceded her in death on October 22, 2013. Dorothy worked for the Connally Independent School District before her retirement in 1998. She also helped her husband with their dairy farm for many years, feeding baby calves in the snow and putting out feed for the cattle. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Gholson, R.V.O.S. #78 and a longtime member of the PTA at Gholson Schools. She was a dedicated room mother and homemaker. Dorothy was the best Mom, Wife, Granny, Sister and Friend. She loved working in her yard and taking care of her flowers. Dorothy also enjoyed spending time at the river, having fish fries and spending time with her family. At Christmas and Thanksgiving, the family could not wait for her dressing. She loved animals and had a pet calf named "Mabel" who later became a milk cow in the dairy, a longhorn named "Red" and her dog "Pepper." Dorothy was very to the point and her spunk is what made her Mom. The grandchildren were her greatest joy and loved spending time with her because Dorothy would let them have fun playing in the mud and climbing the trees. Dorothy is also preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Linda Hughes. Survivors include two sons, Kenneth Gassaway Jr. and wife Rena and Keith Gassaway, all of Gholson; a daughter, Kathy Svrcek and husband Steve of West; a brother, Bill Locklar; a sister, Elizabeth Gregory; five grandchildren, Kevin Gassaway and his wife Bridgett, Kyle Svrcek, Michael Gassaway, Chris Gassaway, and Kodey Gassaway; seven great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the West Rest Haven Disaster Relief Fund.