John Gossard

John Ray Gossard, Jr., 59, died Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at an Abilene medical center. Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts on June 3, 1951, John was the son of Margaret Dorrence Gossard and John Ray Gossard. He graduated from Cordova High School in Sacramento, California. He received his bachelor's degree from California State University, Sacramento in 1973 and earned his teacher's certificate in 1982 from Abilene Christian University. John was a U. S. Air Force veteran, having moved to Dyess AFB in the late 1970's for his last assignment. After his military career was completed, he earned his teacher's certificate and taught at Hawley High School and Junior High School (1983-89); Cooper High School (1989-93); EXCEL, now known as Woodson Center for Excellence (1993-2001); and returned to Cooper High School where he taught Social Studies from 2001 until the time of his death. He was a member of Cooper High School Chinle, Arizona Student Council Service Project. John married Shirley McKee on August 6, 1983 in Abilene. He was a member of Broadview Baptist Church, where he was the teacher of The Harbor Sunday School Class, better known as John's Sunday School Class. John had been a member of the Kairos Prison Ministry and was a member of the Big Country Emmaus and Big Country Chrysalis Communities. He was preceded in death by his son, Patrick Henry Gossard on May 13, 2001, and his parents. John is survived by his wife, Shirley Gossard of Abilene; daughter, Katie Gossard and her fiancé, Richard Green II of Abilene; three sisters, Peggy Zimmerman and husband David of Santa Rosa, California, Karen Koenig and husband Durs of Forestville, California, and Sara Marsh Gossard of Sacramento, California; three nieces; two nephews; two great-nieces and three great-nephews. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 24th, at The Gathering Place at Broadview Baptist Church, 2500 South 27th Street. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday, March 25th, at Broadview Baptist Church with Rev. David Cason officiating, directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to World Missions c/o Broadview Baptist Church, 2500 South 27th Street, Abilene, TX 79605.