John Gaskill grew up at Bodie Island Lighthouse, the son of a keeper, Vernon Gaskill.
In his retirement, he came back to Bodie Island and began sharing experiences with visitors and friends. We who spend time in North Carolina at the lighthouses have come to look forward to the month of June when each year, he spends hours on the back porch greeting folks and telling stories.
We have come to love and adore him, and we have learned so much of the past from him.
This year, while doing just that, he fell on those stairs. breaking a
couple of ribs, tearing a ligament in his back, and spraining his wrist. John is in his nineties, and was quite embarassed to have fallen. He is very active and last year I watched from the porch steps as he made two trips to the top of Bodie escorting some visiting dignataries, then sat down beside me ...breathing quite normally and with a big grin on his face!
This is one of my photos of John taken last spring on the back porch of the Keeper's dwelling chatting with Cheryl Roberts.
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Cheryl reports,
He's done so much for BILH. OBLHS is what brought him back "home," you know. At our invitation he started taking people to the top for media stories, even Homer Hickam, where The Keeper's Son story line was conceived. Then he started sitting on the porch and talking with visitors. Yes, he has touched many lives, including my Mom's and mine!
He's in good spirits and friends from Raleigh are with him and taking care of him. With pain meds, he's able to sit and eat at the table now.
Would you take a moment to send this wonderful man a card. Be sure to include your return address...he likely will write back to you!
He'll be on his way back home soon, so we'll use that address:
Mr. John Gaskill
U.S. Naval Home
1800 Beach Drive
Gulfport, MS 39507
Thanks to each of you!
Judy
