Prayers and Postcards for John Gaskill

John Gaskill is the son of the last civilian keeper at Bodie Island Lighthouse, Vernon Gaskill.

If you took any of the lighthouse bus tours during the 1998 Providence Reunion, you probably met John. During the recent summers, he has often spent time on the porch at the Bodie Island Lighthouse keepers home sharing his memories with visitors.

Cheryl Roberts told me today that John, who turned 87 last week, is now living at the US Naval Home in Gulfport MS. His health is not good, but she has hopes that he will be able to again share his stories during the summer at Bodie.

If you have a spare lighthouse postcard or two, how about sending them to John with good wishes and encouragement?

John Gaskill
US Naval Home
1800 Beach Drive
Gulfport MS 39507


Digital image courtesy Jack McCombs for the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society

Please keep John Gaskill in your prayers and thoughts.

I remember John well, not only great stories but a super nice guy!!! Our card will go out today and I know just which one we will send..

Thank you for this information about John Gaskill. I certainly remember John and, in fact, last saw him and Bruce Roberts on the stairs of Bodie Light in 2001. The two men were being interviewed by the History Channel and MJ and I were paying our first ever visit to this light station. I will be sending John a post card and will keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

Ron
(CT Keeper)

As what Ron stated, thank you for that information. I have never met the gentleman, but we will be sure to send him a card in the mail!

Tim

I'm hoping that we have more than 4-5 cards headed John's way.

i'm in.

will do

Mine is in the mail today John...I'm just sorry that our two times to Bodie Island we did not have the pleasure of meeting him.
Ruthie

There is one from Bill Younger heading John Gaskill's way, also!!

Providence is a long way from Bodie Island. Was Mr. Gaskill a reunion attendee/guest/bus tour participant?

John Gaskill went along on the Chidester bus tour's before the reunion and shared his wonderful stories with an eager group of collectors wanting to hear about his memories at Bodie Lighthouse...

Author Ray Jones and Photographer Bruce Roberts joined us as guides on the lighthouse bus tours for the 1998 Reunion. Cheryl Shelton-Roberts, also came along and brought her mom. John Gaskill was/is a friend of the Roberts and joined us for the tours, but not the reunion itself.

My card is on the way

Charles

Sent a card off today.

I'm sending off a second card today and have pre-addressed a couple of more for mailing in future weeks.

Thanks, everyone. Hope John can cover a wall in his room at the Naval Home with lighthouse postcards!

How about spreading the word at meetings of Collector Clubs? Print out this thread with John's address and take it to your meeting along with a few postcards for people to address and write notes on.

Just raising this one back into consciousness. Anybody got another card to send to John?

Michigan City Lighthouse postcard on it's way to John! Thanks, John C., for letting us know about this.
John & Mary