James Lorance Gaston came into this world on October 11, 1937 to the late George and Millie Lee-Gaston at Charity Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was the third eldest child out of seven. At a young age he learned the true meaning of hard work and loyalty. He loved fishing, camping and just being in the company of his enormously sized family. James loved and adored his family tremendously and wasn’t ashamed to show it on a regular basis. He enjoyed being a doting, strong male figure in everyone’s life. He always had respect for his older brothers, Bobby Gaston (deceased) and Clent Gaston, Sr. While at the same time, he cherished and protected his younger siblings, Audrey Cooks (deceased), George Gaston (deceased), Joyce Watson and Marsha Lee Tyler (deceased).
He attended Ringgold Colored High in Ringgold, Louisiana before moving to Seattle, WA in 1957 with his entire family. A year later, he had met a beautiful young lady by the name of Delores Cummings. After courting Delores for three years, James had joined the US Army in 1960. When he returned from his basic training, he asked Delores for her hand in marriage. James and Delores wed on December 23, 1961 in Seattle, WA. He worked as an MP and Telephone Communications in the military. He toured in Germany and traveled to France, Denmark and England.
The following year on October 26, 1962, James and Delores welcomed their baby girl, Carol J. Gaston. Eighteen months after Carol’s birth, they welcomed another baby girl, Janice M. Gaston (deceased) on April 10, 1964. On, July 31, 1964, James was Honorably Discharged from the United States Army. He went on to building his trade. He worked at various jobs and went to College and took up wielding until he landed a job at Boeing in 1972. James worked at Boeing during the “third shift” and was a loyal member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
February of 1975, Delores was diagnosed with cancer and sadly passed in April of 1976, leaving James to raise his two daughters alone. James kept working hard to provide for his daughters even though he was devastated by the loss of his sweetheart. He went back to school at South Seattle Central College where he met a young vibrant and single mother by the name of Phoebe Harris. They dated for 6 months until they wed on October 22, 1976. Nineteen months after their marriage, James and Phoebe welcomed their daughter Conchata C. Gaston on May 4, 1978. After working long hours to provide for his growing family, he suffered a stroke on his motorcycle while riding to Mount Rainier with a friend on August 20, 1982. He sustained a head- injury on top of the stroke and was in a coma for 15 days. Three days after his accident, James and Phoebe welcomed their youngest child (and his namesake) a baby girl whom they named Jamie L. Gaston, on August 23, 1982.
After James’ near fatal accident, he had to take an early retirement from Boeing. For the remainder of his life, James spent the next 36 years spending plenty of time with his loved ones and friends. While enjoying many of days fishing, going to church and breaking bread with those whom he loves.
James leaves to cherish his memory: his devoted and loving wife of 41 years, Phoebe Gaston; daughters Carol Gaston, Conchata Gaston-Martin (Nicholas) and Jamie Gaston-Winters (Martez); Step-children: daughter Kim Harris-Hodges (James) & son Vincent Dunn, Sr.; grandchildren Shamika Gaston, Alonzo "Pierre" King, Deja King, Tyrece Young-Martin, Na’ila Martin and Nicholas “Nicky” Martin, Jr.; step-grandchildren Jack Torrey, Isaiah Dunn & Vincent Dunn, Jr; six great-grandchildren; last surviving siblings, brother Elder Clent Gaston, Sr. & sister Joyce Watson (Charles); along with a large host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives & friends.
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