Esther V. Gaskins – Trendsetter

Eulogy Read by Rick Dale, Jr. – Grandson

Woman, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Great Great Grandmother and maybe surprising to some, a trendsetter.

Trendsetter? You may ask.  Sure Esther was always impeccably dressed to the nines with an ageless fashion sense and a passion for shopping.  But beyond that, no matter what age she was at the time she was one of the defining persons of her age.

A woman in the work force – she was there before most.

A woman the head of a household – she was there before most.

A woman owning her own home, without a man – she was there before most.

A woman with her own pension and retirement – she was there before most.

But then moving past working age she helped redefine retirement age.  There was no more sitting on the porch in a rocker, it was time to travel.  She helped pioneer senior travel with her trips with Aunt Ange.  She visited places such as France, Germany, Spain, England, Mexico, Canada and all over the United States along with cruises just to mention a few locations she visited.

She attended and helped coordinate some of the first Senior Citizen center gatherings.

She got awards after her retirement for community service.

I know I can’t look past all those special times she had with each of us.

The Grandchildren remember the sleepovers, special drinks or food she prepared and of course the special Thanksgiving dinner with her homemade stuffing and the bingo games with all the pennies afterward.

The parents remember her for being there when they needed a break from grandchildren and sent them on the sleepovers.  But she was there for them for so much more than I could ever know.

Her friends, whom she seemed to out live just about all of them, also have there special memories of her.

But what I want you to do is look beyond all that and see the opportunities and doors she opened up for so many women, workers and seniors.  She defined what a strong woman is and has passed that along to her children and all generations of grandchildren and as a trendsetter for the rest of the world.  So if you are a strong woman or you love a strong woman you owe a debt of gratitude to Esther Gaskins.

I was reading some Chinese philosophy the other day and came across this saying. When I behold the sacred Liao Wo (a species of grass symbolizing parenthood) My thoughts return to those who begot me, those who raised me, and now are tired. I would repay the bounty the have given me. But it is as the sky; it can never be approached.

 
You will be deeply missed Grandma Gaskins.