Marvin Kent Gasaway Obituary (1944 - 2019)

Marvin Kent Gasaway, age 75, passed away peacefully on May 4, 2019, in Texas City, Texas. Kent, as he was known to his family and friends, was born on April 29, 1944, in Houston, Texas. He was a graduate of Jesse H. Jones High School class of '62 and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Houston. Kent started working in his father's machine shop as a child and throughout his life was involved in the machining industry, owning four machine shops as well as selling machine tools and industrial equipment. Kent and his brother also invented and patented fencing components. He was a licensed Texas auctioneer and a certified machinery and equipment appraiser. His affiliation with the Machinery Dealers National Association, the Association of Machinery and Equipment Appraisers, and the Texas Auctioneer's Association, were very important to him and he greatly valued his friends and associates in these great organizations. Mr. Gasaway was initiated into the Masonic Lodge and earned his degrees at the Fairbanks Lodge #1363. In later years he became a member of the Ganado Lodge #1055 as well as an endowed member of the East Bernard Lodge #817. He served as Worshipful Master for the East Bernard Lodge and was awarded the Golden Trowel award in 2009. He also served as District Deputy Grand Master of District 32 for the Grand Lodge of Texas. Always interested in helping others, Mr. Gasaway served for many years, as the Executive Director of the Open Door Mission, an independent non-profit mission dedicated to helping the homeless and transforming lives in Houston. Kent enjoyed flying, was a licensed pilot and became a member of the Civil Air Patrol to volunteer his time and help his community. An avid hunter and fisherman, Kent, loved the Texas coast and was an honored Trustee Emeritus of the GCCA (Gulf Coast Conservation Association) now known as the CCA (Coastal Conservation Association). Some of his favorite hours were spent fishing for trout and redfish up and down the Texas gulf coast, especially in the Laguna Madre. Port Mansfield and the Mansfield Club held a special place in his heart. He was also a member of the Tejas Hunting Retriever Club and thoroughly enjoyed participating in training sessions and hunt tests with his beloved Labrador retrievers. Mr. Gasaway is preceded in death by his parents, Thurman Stanley Gasaway and Helen McKeehan Gasaway. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Lori Brown Gasaway, stepdaughter Rachel Saucier Healy, husband Ben, grandson Silas Healy; his son, Kenneth Blake Gasaway, wife Kim, grandchildren Connor and Hannah Gasaway; his daughter Landis Gasaway Collins, husband Steve, grandchildren Aiden and Stevie Collins; ex-wife Carol Ammons Holloway, his brothers Mark Gasaway and Richard Gasaway and numerous nieces and nephews. To honor Kent's memory, donations can be made through GoFundMe.com to the Kent Gasaway Memorial Fund.