Joe Mac Gaskins

Joe Mac \Pat\ Gaskins passed away on Sunday, May 29, 2016 at home in the presence of his loving family.Joe Mac was born December 27, 1926 in Howard County to Oscar Bryant and Nora Smith Gaskins. He married LaVerne Martin on June 4, 1949. They were married 61 years.In 1944, Joe Mac graduated from Knott High School, subsequently he graduated from Draughn’s Business School in Abilene. He farmed, raising dry-land cotton for 70 years. Most of his life was spent living on the farm which his great grandfather purchased for $3.00 an acre. In 2008, Joe Mac and his sons were awarded the Texas Department of Agriculture \Century Farm Award\ for continuously farming land owned by a single family for 100 years. He was awarded top Agriculture Producer of Howard County in 1988. He was affiliated with the Knott Coop Gin since 1950 helping build it, working as a bookkeeper and later as the manager until retiring in 1972 to run his farming operation full time. Through the later years he was still involved at the gin by serving on the board.He was a long time member of the Ackerly First United Methodist Church.Joe Mac was an avid spectator of sporting events. He especially derived great pleasure from watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren playing their respective sports. His satisfaction in participating in football, softball, basketball, and playing outsider volleyball until he was 45 years old, exemplifying his love of competition.He was a life-long domino enthusiast playing at the gin and later at the \Knott Domino Palace\. He enjoyed winning tournaments at the Howard County Fair Domino Tournament. He and Laverne hosted weekly pot luck dinners playing with family and friends. He passed the love of the game on to his sons and grandsons all of who perfected their skills at Texas A&M.Joe Mac and Laverne raised three children, had six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. A son, Kelly Gaskins and wife Teresa of Knott, a daughter, Kayla McDonnell and husband, Tom of San Antonio and a son, Van Gaskins and wife, Manda of Knott. The grandchildren are Dustin Joe Gaskins and, Somer of Knott, Katie Gaskins Page and husband, Jeremy of Shamrock, Clay Hart and wife, Erin of Midland, Thomas McDonnell of Hammond Louisiana, Katherine McDonnell Jones and husband Peter of Houston, and Logan Bryant Gaskins and wife, Meagan of Montgomery. The great grandchildren are Wiley Joe, Tye and Kinley Gaskins, Bailey and Jacob Page and Ryan Hart.He was preceded in death by his wife LaVerne and his parents.Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday June 3, 2016, at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel with Jim Wright, officiating. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Park.The family will receive friends from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Thursday, June 2, 2016 at the funeral home.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Ackerly First United Methodist Church, 303 3rd Street, Ackerly, Texas 79713 or Larry Ratheal Scholarship Fund, a charity to give scholarships to 4-H'ers involved in shooting sports, 7510 WFM 846, Knott, Texas 79748.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences may be made at: www.npwelch.com  ,