Larry Dean Gaston, 71, was born April 29, 1946, to the parents of George and Hazel (Hubbs) Gaston. He went home to be with the Lord on Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018, after a long battle with cancer.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie of Houston, Mo.; daughters, Melissa Merriott and husband, Tim, of West Lafayette, Ind., and Delinda Dzurick and husband, Chad, of Houston, Mo.; and grandchildren, Nate Merriott, Colin Merriott and Abby Dzurick. Larry loved his children and grandchildren and was very proud of them.
Larry was director of the Division of Family Services in Shannon County, Howell County and finally director of Texas County. He worked for the State of Missouri for 33 years, retiring in 2002. In 2003, he started working part-time for the federal government with FEMA helping when disaster struck.
Larry loved to hunt, fish and after retiring, he enjoyed traveling across the 50 states. He also traveled to Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy.
Larry loved the Lord and was ready to go home to be with Him. He dedicated his life to serving the Lord and was a member of Ozark Baptist Church. He will be missed by everyone who knew and loved him.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday, April 7, 2018, at Ozark Baptist Church with the Rev. Ed Hamilton officiating. Burial will be in Big Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers were Don Gaston, Doug Gaston, Charles Smith, Dee Skeeters, Stan Smith, Mark Harper, David Branson and Denny Thomason. Services were under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
The family has respectfully requested in lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Larry Gaston be made to MD Anderson Cancer Research. Online condolences may be sent to www.evansfh.com.
PAID
