Jessie Mae Burton Gaskins, 90, of the Ella community of Adair County, passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025, at 2:45 a.m. at TJ Health Columbia. She was born on July 5, 1935, in Adair County to the late Oliver Russell and Mattie Marie Caldwell Burton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, James Ray Gaskins, who passed in August of 2015; two daughters, Kathy Jean Gaskins Grant on Oct. 30, 2009 and Karen Anne Gaskins in 1962; and one sister, Alice Jean Burton Shroyer in 1981.
She is survived by one son, Kenneth D. Gaskins (Janet) of Columbia; two daughters, Joan M. Gaskins and Susan Breeding (Danny) of Columbia; a son-in-law, Earl Grant of Columbia; two sisters, Judi Curry (Donald) of Taylorsville, Ind., and Carol Swanson of Edinburgh, Ind.; five grandchildren, Barry Scott Stargel, Tonya Renee Grant Feese (James), Janella Rae Grant Miller (Brian), Cameron Wade Grant, and Brandon Keith Breeding (Bre); seven great grandchildren, Diamond Stargel Ford (Cody), Trayton Stargel, Kiley Feese McDaniel (Jake), Grant Feese, Calvin Miller, Kathyryn Miller, Canyon Miller, Karolyna Miller, and Bellamy Breeding; one great-great grandchild, Revanyx Ford and another great-great granddaughter due in August; several nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends survive.
Mrs. Gaskins attended the New Hope Separate Baptist Church where she was a member and spent many years as a Sunday school teacher. She also retired at age 77 from First National Bank after working 40+ years as a teller. She loved the Lord, and she loved her family and friends. She will be dearly missed.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the New Hope Separate Baptist Church with burial in the New Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday after 9 a.m. at New Hope Separate Baptist Church.
Bro. Vitus Bailey, Bro. Dennis Roberts, and Bro. Casey Davis will be officiating. Pallbearers will be James Ralph Roberts, Brandon Breeding, Ruben Temple, Doug Gaskins, Scott Stargel, and Bradley Swanson. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Shroyer, Brian Miller, James Feese, Cameron Grant, Earl Grant, and Dale Gaskins.
