GOSSETT, Thomas G.

The Payson Roundup, Payson, Arizona, Friday, August 07, 2015 Rev. Dr. Thomas G. Gossett July 26, 1939 - August 1, 2015 Rev. Dr. Thomas G. Gossett, 76, of Payson, Ariz., went to be with the Lord Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015. Dr. Gossett, a longtime resident of Payson, was founder and director of Indian Trails Missions, which serves the indigenous people of the Southwest and Mexico. Dr. Gossett is survived by his children, Rev. Richard Gossett and wife Rebecca of Merrill, Mich., daughters Michelle D’Addabbo and husband Steve of Payson, and Kimberly Murphy and husband Ken of Payson; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sister Sharon Philp and husband Chuck of Bellevue, Mich. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Sharon, mother Pearl and father Thomas C. Gossett. Dr. Gossett was born July 26, 1939 in Battle Creek, Mich. and grew up in nearby Bellevue. It was on a high school mission trip to Arizona in 1957 where he found his love and passion for the Native People, a love and passion he shared with then girlfriend Sharon who shared his vision; he promised the people then that one day he’d return and start a work for them and in the summer of 1969 that promise was made good and Indian Trails was founded. In 1972, a door was opened to expand the work into Mexico and a few short years later Senderos de Misiones, the Mexican counterpart to Indian Trails, was founded there. Both of these works have continued to grow and expand over the years and the work he started will continue. Following with his wishes, cremation has taken place. There will be a memorial service for him at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015 at Payson First Assembly of God, 1100 W. Lake Drive. Memorial donations may be made to his life’s work, Indian Trails Missions, P.O. Box 1797, Payson, AZ 85547-1797.