Cleo Reta (Johnson) Gossett
Cleo Gossett passed on Oct. 5, 2023. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who cared deeply for her family, friends and faith.
Longtime Ephrata resident Cleo Gossett went to be with the Lord on Oct. 5, 2023. Cleo was born March 24, 1930, and grew up on a farm near Artesia, N.M., with 13 siblings who all experienced hard work as a way of life.
She attended college at New Mexico A&M where she met LeRoy Gossett, and they were married from 1949 until her passing. In 1962, the family moved to Ephrata where LeRoy took an engineering job at the Bureau of Reclamation. Two years later, they purchased an undeveloped farm unit in Block 71 and have lived there since.
Cleo loved the country life and was active in neighborhood groups and the leader of the 4-H club she helped start for her three children; since she was once a 4-Her herself and wanted them to have the same opportunities. She was often teaching a sewing class or driving the carpool for the neighborhood kids.
Cleo was an artist and creative at heart. She excelled at sewing, baking and oil painting, and always had some craft or project in progress. She also had a servant's heart, whether it was serving her family, working in the nursery, leading a Bible study, volunteering at Tall Timber and Canon Beach Conference Center or providing a dessert or meal when called upon.
One of her greatest loves, besides her husband, were her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It was her delight to rock babies, play games, find reasons for parties and tell stories and jokes. Hearing her easy and frequent laughter is one of the family’s fondest memories.
Cleo attributed the successes of her life to her commitment to the Lord Jesus and knew her life would not have been the same without His love and guidance.
She and LeRoy were longtime members of the Presbyterian Church and later were founding members of the Community Church of Ephrata. In recent months, Cleo has been a resident of Summer Wood Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in Moses Lake.
Cleo is preceded in death by her parents I.P. and Nora Johnson and her 13 siblings. She is survived by LeRoy, her husband of 74 years, her three children, Diane Joslin, Dave Gossett (Sharon) and Wayne Gossett (Renee), six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and numerous Johnson nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family suggests donating to Alzheimer’s Association https://act.alz.org/donate.
A celebration of life will be held at the Community Church of Ephrata on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at 10:30 a.m.