Mary Ruth Gaston, 92, of Etowah, passed away Thursday, June 12, 2014 at McMinn Memorial Nursing Home, Etowah, TN. She was the daughter of the late William Jennings Bryan and Julia Elizabeth Nichols and was preceded in death by her husband, James T. Gaston, Jr.; her parents, listed above; sisters, Edith Sartin and Sevilla Culpepper; and brother, Herbert Nichols.

She lived a long life of dedicated service to God, Family, and Country. At the time of her death she was the oldest living member of Coghill Baptist Church. Her service to her Country began when she worked at the Volunteer Ordinance Works in Tyner during World War 2 and continued as she served as the Deputy Property Assessor in McMinn County for 8 years. She was a lifelong member of the Republican Party. Her Service was recognized by the McMinn County Republican Party when they awarded her the Lincoln Award for her years of dedicated service in May 2008. As she was caring for her father and mother when they reached the end of their life's journey, she became a Certified Nursing Assistant and cared for patients at the McMinn Memorial Nursing Home in Etowah retiring at the age 83. Her children and her family were the center of her life. She enjoyed family vacations in the mountains of Polk County and being with her children in church at Coghill. She was the classical matriarch of her family, fulfilling her obligation to raise her children in the admonition of the Lord, "She did not need a Village" for this most sacred responsibility. She will be greatly missed by the family and friends that knew and loved her.

Survivors include her children and spouses, Charles and Brenda Gaston, Joe and Kitti Gaston, Larry and Jacqueline Gaston, Dan and Susie Gaston Lee, and Dana and Patricia Gaston Workman; grandchildren, Tony and Kasaj Gaston, Craig and Nancy Gaston, Traci Woody, Bryan and Lara Gaston, Andrew and Jennifer Gaston, Jeff and Talor Troyer, and Clinton and Emilee Armstrong; great-grandchildren, Nathan Woody, Nicky Woody, Gaston Woody, Cassandra Woody, Kyler Gaston, Chloe Gaston, Tavyn Gaston, Geneva Gaston, Dorothy Gaston, McKenna Troyer, and Lila Troyer; great-great-grandchildren, Bella Gaston; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held at 8:00 p.m., Monday, June 16, 2014 in the South Chapel of Bordwine Funeral Home with Rev. Joe Hatcher and Rev. Vant Hardaway officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m., to 8:00 p.m., Monday prior to the service. A private burial will be held at a later date. Tony Gaston, Craig Gaston, Andrew Gaston, Clinton Armstrong, Nathan Woody, and Nicky Woody will serve as pallbearers.