Donald Gaston

Donald E. “Don” Gaston, 87, of Marysville, KS, and formerly of Beattie, KS, died on Friday, March 27, 2015 at Community Memorial Healthcare in Marysville. Visitation was Monday, March 30, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Kinsley Mortuary in Marysville. The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. A funeral service was held Tuesday, March 31, at 2:00 p.m. at the Marysville United Methodist Church. Rev. Dale Lewis and Rev. Shirley Edgerton officiated. Jane Sedlacek played the organ while Wayne Kruse sang “Amazing Grace” and the congregation sang “Rock of Ages”. The pallbearers were Lynn Mayer, Joe Germer, Dale Buessing, Chris Hulsing, Dave Strathman and Keith Bramhall. Burial was in the Vermillion Cemetery. Don was born July 16, 1927 to Chester and Ethel (Johnson) Gaston. He graduated from Axtell High School in 1945. On January 28, 1951 he married Twyla Stowell. They celebrated 59 years of marriage before Twyla’s death in 2010. Don served in the Army from March 1951 through February 1954 and, while stationed in Germany, repaired motorized vehicles and developed the skills that made him an excellent mechanic who could fix just about anything. In addition to farming, he worked as an electrician for a number of years. Don and Twyla farmed near Beattie for many years and were actively involved in the community. Don was a member of numerous boards and committees; which included serving as President of the Marshall County Farm Bureau and Community Memorial Hospital Board, and Treasurer of the Marshall County Association for Retarded Citizens. His many other community activities ranged from coaching and umpiring girl's softball to many years of involvement with the Beattie Milo Festival, and most recently helped as a volunteer at the Marysville hospital. He was an avid sports fan and especially enjoyed attending area high school football and basketball games, as well as following KU basketball, K-State football and Royals baseball. After Don and Twyla retired from farming in 2003, they moved to Beattie where he continued his lifelong enjoyment of gardening. He was preceded in death by his wife, Twyla, on February 7, 2010; daughter, Angela Jo on September 7, 1981; a brother, Meredith (Doc) Gaston; and a sister, Dorothy Anderson. Survivors include two daughters, Marsha (Lynn) Marten of Lenexa and Lori (Claude) Scheibe of Summerfield. He was a proud grandfather of four grandchildren: Leslie (Dave) Lane of Denver, Colorado, Lindsay (Jason) Ingram of Overland Park, Andrea (Keith) Heideman of Centralia, and Jared Scheibe of Summerfield along with seven great-grandchildren: Ephrum, Jayden, and Kodi Ann Heideman; Mason and Hayes Lane; and Lou and Jack Ingram. He is also survived by a brother, Max Gaston of Marysville; and two sisters, Marjorie Harland of Marysville and Shirley Malone of Burchard, NE. A memorial fund has been established and will be designated later. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary, 1006 Broadway, Marysville, KS 66508. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Gaston, please visit our flower store.