Gladys Otwell Gaskin

Gladys Otwell Gaskin passed away Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at Charlyn Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Winnsboro, LA. She was 101 and 2 months old. Services will be Saturday, March 24, at 12:00 p.m. at Mulhearn Funeral Home Chapel in Winnsboro with interment in the Fort Necessity Baptist Church Cemetery, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home in Winnsboro. Rev. Don Blackmon will officiate, with Bro. Dallas "Frog" Crain, giving the eulogy.

Gladys was born in 1917, the third child of Alex and Catherine Zeagler Otwell. They along with a fourth child lived on a farm at Extension, LA, where Gladys lived all of her life. After finishing the 11th grade at Fort Necessity High School, she attended Natchitoches Normal School for two years and received a teaching certificate. A long career of classroom teaching began in Liddieville and culminated at Fort Necessity High School. During those years, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northeast Louisiana State College in Monroe.

Gladys taught nearly 40 years. Seventh grade was her favorite grade to teach; American History was her favorite subject. She stressed correct grammar, good conduct, and your best effort in all endeavors.

Her hobbies included flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching, crossword puzzles, and keeping a daily journal.

Mrs. Gaskin was a member of Fort Necessity Baptist Church and Daughters of the American Revolution.

Gladys lived a long blessed life and will be greatly missed by her friends and family who include her children, Ralph and Sharon Gaskin and Sue and Jerry Thomas. Grandchildren are Lori and Mitchell Loewnau, Cindy and Bill Mearns, and Jason and Sarah Gaskin. Great-grandchildren are Craig and Ethan Barton and Mary and Cora Gaskin; Special daughter, faithful companion and caregiver, Tenna Spann. Special nieces and nephew Janet and Ron Riskedal, who sent flowers weekly for 3 years. Special grand nephew is Michael Otwell. She is preceded in death by parents Alex and Catherine Otwell, sisters Eunice Otwell and Cecile Leonhaeuser, brother Lawrence Otwell, nephew John Otwell, and huband Jay.

Pallbearers are James Ernest Wooldridge, Kermit Burnside, Jack Dailey, Greg Kincaid, Gerald Gilmore, and Jerry Robbins.

Honorary Pallbearers are Horace Robinson, Jimmy Robinson, Barney Boutwell, and Kenneth Boutwell.

Special thanks to Charlyn Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for excellent care given by management and staff. Also thank you to Dr. Tom Colvin and the staff at Hospice TLC.