John Gosslee

Gosslee, John Wilkinson John Wilkinson Gosslee joined God on March 17, 2013 after a courageous search for a cure of his cancer. He lived 48 passionate years of a life full of love and devotion to all of his large family and many friends. A devoted husband, father, son and friend he shared his joy and happiness with all around him. John was born in Baton Rouge, LA on May 4, 1964. All his life he was a gifted athlete and outdoorsman. He graduated in 1982 from Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, Texas where he was a starter on the 5-A Texas State Championship Team. After earning his BBA degree from the University of Arkansas, he continued to play tennis, golf, and ski. He was a fine hunter and fisherman, road dirt bikes and had a grand time with anything he did. John's family and friends loved spending time with him for good reason. He had a big heart, found the good in life when others could not, and never failed to make one feel special. John cared deeply for his family and friends, standing shoulder to shoulder with them, sharing their lives in all circumstances, and was always there to lend a hand. He tackled whatever came his way with the utmost bravery and optimism, never complaining, and always with a grin making other people's lives happier and better for having known him. He loved people and loved life, and he fought hard for it. John volunteered to be the first person in the world to test a new medicine for his kind of cancer (a BRAF mutation) at M.D. Anderson Cancer Clinic in Houston, Texas. All of his doctors, nurses, and researchers celebrated with him and his family during the two and a half months that treatment extended his life. He said, "It gave me more time! I have to be thankful". John advanced the cure of the BRAF mutation of cancer with his positive results. The family wishes to thank all the researchers for their work toward prevention and finding a cure for this dreadful disease. John is survived by his wife Carrie Lynn Gosslee; his 5 year old son, Michael Duke Gosslee; his mother, Susybelle Lyons Gosslee; his father, John Michael Gosslee (Pagett Daves Gosslee); his brother, Michael Scott Gosslee ( Susan Sarwin Gosslee) and their children, Mason and Mira Margaret Gosslee; his sister, Susybelle Gosslee and her children, Parker and Harper Leigh Zook; his grandfather, Charlton H. Lyons and wife, Peggy Lyons and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was predeceased by his grandmother, Susybelle (Duke) Wilkinson Lyons. The memorial service for John will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2013 at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 8011 Douglas Ave., Dallas, Texas 75225. John's family would be grateful for memorial gifts in his name to Our Friend's Place (online giving: www.ourfriendsplace.org or 2501 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75219) or St. Michael and All Angels -Outreach Program.