Minnie Lavelle Gasper

Lavelle Watson Gasper was born March 21, 1925, to Tola Earl Watson and Virlena Mae (Clepper) Watson in the Brazos bottom of Burleson County, Texas. She attended several Burleson County schools while the family farmed in different parts of the county. In 1939 the family moved to her grandfather Pascal Watson’s farm in the Midway community where county roads 316 and 317 intersect. There she met the love of her life, Oscar Gasper, who happened to live on his family’s farm across CR 316 from her. Their first date was in 1940 to see a movie at the Matsonian Theater in downtown Caldwell. Another important date took them to the Burleson County Fair. The first years of their courtship and marriage were spent with lots of letter writing as Oscar served his country in France and Germany during WWII. Lavelle and Oscar married on June 6, 1944, while Oscar was on leave from the army. When WWII ended the young couple moved to Houston for work and to make a home where they reared two daughters, Glenda Virlena (1948) and Joyce Yvonne (1952). Lavelle and Oscar happily provided the support and means for both their girls to complete degrees at the University of Houston and have career options. And then upon retirement, they moved back to Caldwell where they enjoyed the ranch in Chriesman and small-town living. Lavelle shared her happy life with Oscar for 52 years until his passing in 1996.

Lavelle was devoted to her family and her faith. She set an example of Christian love and parenthood for her daughters and grandchildren to follow. Her spirit was kind, patient, and gentle, but also was strong and resilient. Lavelle was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Caldwell where she served as an elder. She also volunteered at the Chriesman Community League and the Caldwell Senior Citizens Center. Lavelle was a master homemaker and loved that role in her life. She loved to cook everyone’s favorite dish or dessert, to sew and quilt, to travel and visit, to camp with family and friends, play cards or dominoes, and best of all, to spend time with her large extended family.

Lavelle was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Oscar, and her six brothers and sisters:  Hubert Watson and wife Alice, J. P. Watson, Maude Franks and husband Willie, Irene Brewster and husband Bob, Gladys Akers and husband Grady, and Mavis Jo Chaffin and husband James. Lavelle is survived by daughters Glenda Marcella and husband Leonard, and Joyce Yvonne Branson and husband Reed, and Sister-in-law Gladys Watson. Her grandchildren are Michael Berry and wife Roxanne, Jonathan Shinn, Kimberly Swope and husband John, Tony Marcella and wife Candice, and Erin Stuckey and husband Matt. Great Grands are Alecia Berry, Thomas Berry, Avery Swope, Zachary Swope, Madeline Marcella, Braden Marcella, Travis Stuckey and Luke Stuckey.

Pallbearers are Michael Berry, Tony Marcella, Jonathan Shinn, Thomas Berry, Braden Marcella and Zachary Swope. Acting as honorary pallbearers are Avery Swope, Madeline Marcella, Travis Stuckey and Luke Stuckey.

A visitation for Lavelle was held on January 4, 2024, from 6-8pm at Strickland Funeral Home. The funeral service was at 11am on January 5, 2024, at First Presbyterian church in Caldwell. Interment followed the service at Chriesman cemetery.

The family requests that memorials be made to First Presbyterian Church (PO Box 1054, Caldwell, TX 77836) or Chriesman Cemetery Association (1088 CR 310, Caldwell, TX 77836).