Edith Lucille Patrick Gossett, 95, died Sunday, May 25, 2014 in Brownwood, Texas.
Edith was born August 5, 1918 in the Bowser community, San Saba County to Lester Butcher Patrick and Della Ann Smith Patrick. In 1925, she began school at the Post Oak School in the Elm Grove community. This was an 11 mile round trip for the Patrick children from their home in the Bowser community to the Elm Grove community. They rode on horses in all types of weather including freezing rain (girls only wore dresses and stockings to protect their legs). Later, the young riders decided to walk because they could keep warmer by walking. Edith went to W. H. Gibbons High School in Richland Springs for her last three years of school and graduated in 1937. She attended TWU in Denton for about two years.
She married Van Gossett on January 25, 1942 in Brownwood Texas – they were married for 58 years. They lived in the Elm Grove community until September 1998 when they moved into the Redstone Park Retirement Home in Brownwood. Edith and Van were active members of the Elm Grove community helping with the annual picnic, rodeo, and monthly community meetings. They were members of the Elm Grove Baptist Church until it disbanded in 1984. Then they became members of the First Baptist Church in Richland Springs. Edith made sure that her children learned about the Lord; she sang hymns to them, and took them to Sunday School and church. She was also the one who handled the discipline in the home (all with the support of Van). Edith loved flowers and had many pretty flowers growing in the yard. Edith and Van always had a large garden and she and the children spent many hours canning or freezing the vegetables and fruit.
Edith is survived by three children – a daughter, Virginia Gossett Waller and husband James Waller of Brownwood, two sons, Floyd Gossett and wife Susan Wilton Gossett of Richland Springs and Wayne Gossett and wife Valerie McPherson Gossett of the Elm Grove community. Edith is also survived by nine grandchildren – Julie Waller of Houston, Keith Waller of Denton, Damon Gossett of Brownwood, Kim Gossett Burns of Belton, Brian Gossett of Brownwood, Gary Gossett and wife Claylene Pabst Gossett of Rochelle, Rayna Gossett Skaggs and husband Will Skaggs of DeLeon, Casey Gossett and wife Sally Cowan Gossett of Elm Grove, and Chad Gossett and wife Carolyn Becker Gossett of Elm Grove. She is also survived by ten great grandchildren – Nicole Burns, Shaylene Gossett Williams, Amber Gossett Brown and husband Josh Brown, Shawn & Savannah Skaggs, Jordan, Jacey, Chase, Kenzie, & Dusti Gossett. Also, surviving are four great-great grandchildren – Peyton, Kelton, & Nikkie Williams and Kamryn Brown. Edith has one surviving brother – Earl Patrick of Bowser.
She was preceded in death by her husband Van Gossett in December 2000 and three brothers – Willard, Elbert, and Homer Patrick.
Funeral services will be held at 1 PM on Thursday, May 29, 2014, at First Baptist Church in Richland Springs with Bill Slaymaker officiating. Burial will follow in the Cox Cemetery, under the direction of Davis-Morris Funeral Home of Brownwood. Visitation will be held on Wednesday evening, May 28, from 6 – 8 PM, at the funeral home.
