Rose was born on January 28, 1945, in Oakman, Alabama. Her loving parents were all too happy to welcome their seventh child. Those parents, George Thurman Lollar and Berlene Elizabeth Cole Lollar, went on to have two more siblings for Rose. The names of Rose’s siblings, in birth order, are as follows: Thurman, James, Ralph, Joann, Lester Terry (Bo), Truman Gene (Boomy), Charles (Chuck), and John.
The Lollars eventually settled in Berry, Alabama, just north of Tuscaloosa. Rose loved her big family; her siblings were truly her best friends. Even so, Rose’s kind demeanor endeared her to classmates and others in the Berry schools and community. She was an active member of several high school organizations and was even named Homecoming Queen. This all-A student (ok, maybe a few Bs) would later attend Walker College and the University of Alabama earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees that allowed her to begin a career in K12 Education.
Her first job was teaching biology at Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. After gaining valuable out-of-state experience, Rose returned to her hometown of Berry to teach elementary education. She loved all of her students and thrived seeing their success both in and out of the classroom.
It was her return to Berry that would also be the twist of fate that connected her with her future soulmate. Tommy Gaston, of Sylacauga, was working at the coal mines around Berry. So was one of Rose’s brothers. That brother suggested Tommy meet a sister of his. This was around 1972. Two years later, Tommy and Rose would walk down the aisle and join lives in wedded matrimony.
Tommy and Rose lived in Tuscaloosa before ultimately settling in Pell City. The couple faced tragedy very early on. Their firstborn, Joel Stacy Gaston, died one day after being born from a rare fetal condition. A year later, they welcomed Jason Paul into their lives. Joshua Mark arrived one year after that and Kelly Marie four years after Joshua.
Rose kept her teaching skills sharp by maintaining her teacher certification and substituting at various public schools over the years. But the allure of being a Mom was her true calling. Rose enjoyed being a homemaker, a loving spouse, and a proud Mom to three kids.
At her beloved church, Logan Martin Church of Christ, she taught Sunday School and developed a Christian family of lifelong friends. Rose rarely missed a service in her four-plus decades at Logan Martin.
Rose loved to cook, especially for others. She traveled when she could, and always loved her larger-than-life Lollar family reunions.
She is survived by her husband, Tommy, two sons - Jason and Josh (Stephani), daughter Kelly (Bruce), grandchildren Bradlee, Brynn, Katelyn, and Gatlin and three step-grandchildren, Kaylei, Paul, and Grace.
The family welcomes flowers but also encourages donations in Rose’s memory to the Logan Martin Church of Christ Building Fund. Checks can be made payable to LMCOC and mailed to: Logan Martin Church of Christ, P.O. Box 1602, Pell City, AL 35125 (Please put “Rose Gaston” in the check’s memo line.)
Arrangements are as follows:
Tuesday, January 2:
Visitation 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Logan Martin Church of Christ
4700 Martin St S, Cropwell, AL 35054
Wednesday, January 3:
Funeral Service 11:00 am
Logan Martin Church of Christ
4700 Martin St S, Cropwell, AL 35054
Graveside Service and Burial
Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Pleasant Hill Road
Berry, AL 35546
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