Paul Thomas Gossett

Paul Thomas Gossett was born September 12, 1933 in Lyles, TN to the late C. Hobert Gossett and Katie McFarlin Gossett. On December 26, 1965, he married his wife of 45 years, Lavinia Nicholson Gossett.

Paul was a 1958 graduate of Austin Peay State College, where he was on the baseball team. From 1958 to 1963 he was a teacher and coach at Hickman County High School; from 1963 ? 1970 he taught and coached at Hay Long High School in Mt. Pleasant and finished his teaching and coaching career from 1970 ? 1995 at Mt. Pleasant High School. Paul also was a TSSAA girl?s softball umpire. From 1954 ? 1956 Paul served his country in the U.S. Army.

Paul was a member of the American Legion Post 10 in Mt. Pleasant, was past president of both the Maury County Education Association and Maury County Retired Teacher?s Association. He was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Pleasant.

Survivors in addition to his wife, Lavinia, are his children: Paul Thomas ?Tommy? Auga Gossett of Kingston Springs and Lucy Ann Gossett of Mt. Pleasant; one brother, Ralph Jo Gossett of Lyles; one sister, Sharon G. Dillingham of Columbia; grandchildren, Nathan Robert Mitchell of Carbondale, IL, Shannon Elaine Mitchell of Louisville, KY, William Dale Gossett and Luke Thomas Gossett, both of Kingston Springs, along with several nieces and nephews.

Paul passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday evening, June 29, 2011.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 12:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant with Rev. Gary Wedgewood officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the American Legion Post 19.

The family will visit with friends on Friday from 5:00 ? 8:00 P.M. at Williams Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant.

Pallbearers will be John Dillingham, Grant Jarnigan, Bill McClanahan, Webb Williams, Derek Boyd and Nathan Mitchell. Honorary pallbearers will be Coach Gossett?s former players, students and fellow teachers at Hickman County High School, Hay Long High School and Mt. Pleasant High School and members of the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the staffs and personnel of Amdeysis Home Health, Complete Care Choice and Hospice Compassus.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant, 202 S. Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, TN 38474 or Alzheimers Association, 4205 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 215, Nashville, TN 37215.