Mattie Tadlock Gaston

Kingsville, Texas

Much loved mother, grandmother, friend, mentor and community servant, Mattie Gaston, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, after a brief illness.

Born on May 22, 1906, in Montgomery, Texas, to William Frenchie and Anna Laura Wood, she lived most of her childhood in Dayton, Texas.

Having completed her training as a medical technologist, she worked at John Sealy Hospital in Galveston where she met and married her love and lifelong partner, Earl Gaston, in July of 1937. Mattie worked at Earl’s side as a nurse, medical technologist, bookkeeper and receptionist in the practice he opened in Falfurrias that fall and that they maintained together until 1946.

That year Mattie, Earl and their daughter, Margaret, moved to Kingsville where she immediately became involved in serving her church and community, in addition to caring for her family.

She was a servant in many areas of her community. Some of those closest to her heart were the woman’s club, the music club, the garden club, Amistad thrift shop and the Brookshire Foundation with their various community outreaches. Children were very dear to her heart, and one of her greatest joys was teaching the history of hats to fifth grade students providing examples from her own collection until she moved to Brownwood, Texas in 2003. She was also a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church where she served passionately as elder, Sunday school teacher, and in many other capacities.

When Mattie saw a need, she found a way to meet it. She daily lived as she believed-that we are the hands and feet of Christ. As her dear friend Clyde Allen said at her 90th birthday party, “Jesus said, ‘Love One Another,’ and Mattie listened.”

After his retirement she and Earl had more time to pursue their outside interest in raising polled Hereford cattle and enjoying their family which included a number of devoted nephews and nieces, as well as grand and great grand nephews and nieces.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Joe Clayton, her grandchildren, their spouses and children, Christopher, Ali and Claire Clayton, Catherine, Tim, Caroline, and Lauren Prince. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her siblings.

Any memorial donations may be made to Presbyterian Pan American School, Box 1578, Kingsville, Texas 78363, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

A private graveside service will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Tyler, Texas. A memorial service will be held at Union Presbyterian Church in Brownwood, Texas, on Friday, Jan. 4 at 2 p.m. A memorial service is also planned at the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsville on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m.