Thomas Watson Gasperson

Thomas Watson Gasperson, 81, of 6959 Casar Rd., Lawndale, NC, died Friday, April 14, 2000 at the VA Medical Center in Asheville. A native of Buncombe County, he was a son of the late Robert U. and Eva Lance Gasperson. He was also preceded in death by a brother Harry Gasperson and a sister Virginia Ingle. He was a Navy Petty Officer First Class during WW II and a Owner Operator of a dairy farm in Candler for 30 years. He was a member of Southside Freewill Baptist Church in Hickory, NC. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Avalee Owenby Gasperson; daughters, Margaret Luna of Montgomery, AL, Fran Collette of Lynnwood, WA, Rena Lance and her husband Roger of Arden, NC; sons, Thomas Watson Gasperson, Jr. and his wife Nancy of Stanley, NC, Texas Joe (TJ) Gasperson and his wife Ling Ling from Citrus Heights, CA; sisters, Frances King of Asheville, Alice Whiteside of Candler, Estelle Warren and Gladys Rogers both of Charlotte, Teddie Mondor of Farmington Hills, MI; brother, Rev. Donald Gasperson of Candler; 13 grandchildren, Shawn West of Midway Park, NC, Gwen Bogan and Randy Gasperson of Stanley, NC, Laura Antee of Wichita Falls, TX, Gloria Lamb and Billy Mashburn both of Montgomery, AL, Landon Hendee of Spokane, WA, Jared Hendee of Moscow, ID, Joy Young and Joni Hendee both of Yakima, WA, Tammy Michaels and Rachel Gasperson both of New Albany, IN, and Daina Gasperson of Kinston, NC; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Funeral services will be 3:00 pm Monday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with Revs. Julius Hall and Troy Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. His family will receive friends one hour prior to the service and at other times the home of Rena Lance, 12 Holly Hill Dr., Laurel Park, Arden. Memorials may be made to the Building Fund at Southside Freewill Baptist Church, 4522 Hwy. 127 South, Hickory, NC 28602.