Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, September 27, 2012 at Collier-Butler Funeral Home for Gary E. Muskett, who passed away September, 25 at 2:48 a.m. after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Visitation will be from 12:00-2:00 Thursday. Interment will be in Rainbow Memorial Gardens. Service will be conducted by Rev. Tammy Jackson. Gary was confirmed in the AL City United Methodist Church and was a member there for most of his life.
Gary was preceded in death by parents, The Rev. Tom and Lucile Muskett, paternal and maternal grandparents, many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Survivors include son, Kevin (Paula) Muskett, brothers, Don (Joyce), David (Pat), and Ralph (Carolyn) Muskett, granddaughters, several nieces and nephews, aunts and cousins.
Gary was a standout athlete at Emma Sansom High School where he graduated in 1957. He was chosen most valuable player in the Etowah County Basketball Tournament in 1956, his junior season. During his senior year, he was elected Captain of the Emma Sansom Rebels' football, basketball and baseball teams and helped lead the baseball team to the 1957 state championship. He attended Tennessee Tech University on a baseball scholarship, where he was an Ohio Valley Conference All Conference Player and later earned Graduate degrees at the University of Montevallo and UAB.
Gary spent thirty years in education in Etowah County. He was the only person to ever coach at all three of the old city schools, Emma Sansom, Gadsden High and Litchfield. He was basketball coach at Hokes Bluff from 1961 to 1963 and then returned to his Alma Mater, Emma Sansom, where he coached until 1975. He became head baseball coach in 1966 and led the rebels to the 1970 Class 3A-4A State Championship and the 1973 baseball team to the 4A State Championship. He coached the Rebel Basketball Team to a 17-8 record during the 1971-72 seasons, his only year as Emma Sansom's head basketball coach after 8 seasons as the Assistant Coach. The Emma Sansom Yearbook was dedicated to Gary in 1970. He is also a member of the first class of inductees to the Emma Sansom Wall of Fame.
He moved to Litchfield, the city's newest High School in 1975. He stayed there through the 1981-82 season, coaching both basketball and baseball. He led the Eagles to a 96-89 record in seven seasons as the basketball coach, and their first State Tournament appearance in 1980. He also coached the baseball team to the school's first State Tournament in 1982.
He moved to Gadsden High School in 1982 to coach basketball and serve as Assistant Principal. In his first season the Tigers reeled off a 30-4 record capped by a 64-51 victory over Guntersville in the 1983 State Championship game. His Gadsden teams compiled a 141-67 record in eight seasons, won five area titles and made four State Tournament appearances. He was named the Alabama 3A Coach of the Year in 1983.
Gary was a player and Captain on one State Championship team and the Head Coach of three others representing the city of Gadsden, truly allowing the city to lay claim as a "City of Champions."
Pallbearers will be: son, Kevin Muskett, brothers, David and Ralph Muskett, nephew, Mark Muskett, Carey Mayes, Snooky Burgess, Hoody Tyler, and Jim Snow.
Honorary pallbearers will be: members of the Class of 1957 Emma Sansom Baseball State Championship team, members of the 1970 and 1973 Emma Sansom Baseball State Championship teams, members of the 1983 Gadsden High School Basketball State Championship team, brother, Don Muskett, Eddie Entrekin, Aaron Walker, Max Davis, Hal Davidson, Rickey Arthur, Joey Neal, Jimmy Thompson, Pat Thomas, and Max Watson.
A special thanks to Landeria Gladden and her staff at the Meadows in Rainbow City, to Hope Hospice and Nurse Shirley Headrick, and Bradlie Bowlin, who is like family, and was with Gary when he passed. They all took special care of Coach Muskett.
Thank you also to Dr. Kevin Windsor, Dr. Leonard Outim, the staff of the fifth floor at Trinity Hospital and the seventh floor staff at Gadsden Regional Medical Center.
Online condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
October 3, 2012
Mike Mayo
Kevin, I am sorry for your loss. I know the pain of losing your father. Time will heal your pain. While one never totally heals from the loss, one does learn to accept the loss. Remember your fond times. Your cousin, Mike.
October 1, 2012
Janice Clayborn
Evelyn and Kevin,
Thinking of you both during this difficult time. I will always remember our wonderful times on Western Avenue. Love you both and know that you are in my heart and prayers always.
Janice Clayborn
September 27, 2012
Jim Dodson
Gary and I played together on the Emma Sansom 1957 State Championship in Baseball. Gary was a great person and a great athelete. May God bless his Family and comfort them in this time of sorrow
September 27, 2012
Jerry Pullen
Kevin,
Coach Muskett will live on in the hearts of his many students like myself that he touched.
September 27, 2012
Alice Avery Rudolph
My thoughts and prayers goes out the family. May God keep and continue to bless you all!
September 26, 2012
Evelyn Muskett
Gary, I was with you when you drew your last breath on this side of Heaven. I know you knew I was in that room. I prayed the 23rd Psalm over you at 10PM and you tried so hard to move your lips but you simply was too weak. I know you heard me. Also when we held hands before you got too sick to know, we forgave each other for anyway or anything we had done to hurt the other. That was a precious time.
You knew I had an obligation starting on Sept 27th - 30th and I feel deep in my heart you would say, "Go Evelyn". Crisis are never scheduled on time.
I am so glad you are with Jesus because it was hard seeing you suffer like you did. Remember me telling you to save me a seat when you got to Heaven, if you beat me, you smiled, held my hand and said, "You Bet".
Tomorrow when I am in Wetumpka, Al at 2:00PM I will send a kiss up to Heaven to you.
Rest well "My Love"
September 26, 2012
john starr
A Father lives after death through his son. God bless you and we love you Coach Starr and family
September 26, 2012
Kevin and family. I am writing on behalf of Gary's Aunt Mary Warren. She is so sorry that she(and I) will not be able to be at the funeral. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. She has such fond memories of Gary. One of our most fond memories was the family gathering at Gary and Evelyn's house for a cookout. I greatly appreciated your dad and his brothers coming to my dad's funeral. My memories of your dad was that he was always smiling. Your cousin - Deb Warren Valentine
September 26, 2012
Jerome Horton
My most heartfelt condolences goes out to the family of Coach Muskett
September 26, 2012
Ray Mullinax
Kevin and family, sorry to hear of your loss. I have great memories of Coach both from Litchfield and at the Muskett house. We will keep you guys in our prayers.
September 26, 2012
Randolph Taylor
Kevin and the rest of the Muskett family, I am so sorry for your loss. I had the pleasure of playing basketball for Coach Muskett at Litchfield High School, Class of '78. He taught me a lot. May God bless you!
September 26, 2012
Bill and Brenda Lockridge
Kevin and Ralph,
So sorry to hear of Gary passing. I know he was a great father and brother, and will be dearly missed. Our prayers are with you and the family during your loss.
September 26, 2012
Billy Ray Morris
Ralph, I'm so sorry about
Gary. I thought the world of him. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.
September 26, 2012
Thomas (Tom) Ensey
Kevin and family I worked with your father at Trinty Hospital as a volunteer several years ago..We had many good talks and sports stories as we "told people where to go" from the information desk.I had lost track of Gary and was thinking of him the other day and am grieved to hear of his passing....My wife Liz and I send to you our deepest sympathy.
September 26, 2012
Ralph, Kevin and the rest of the Muskett Family:
I'm sorry for your loss and will keep you in my prayers. Gary was an encouragement to me when I started out in my coaching career. I always appreciated that.
May God Bless,
Michael Bowman
September 26, 2012
Thoughts and prayers to the family. I am a graduate of the class of '57'
Grace Barker Poff (Roanoke, VA)
September 26, 2012
David Moore
Muskett family, I am very sorry to hear of Coach Muskett's passing. I have many great memories of him from back in 1965-1968. I really enjoyed playing baseball under him even though it was only one year after he took over for Coach Holt. He was a fantastic coach to play for and will be greatly missed by all.
September 26, 2012
Bo Evans
Kevin, your father was a good man and I will always remeber him and that magical season we together had in 1980 at Lichfield High School. My thoughts and prayers are with you always.
September 26, 2012
Kevin and Muskett family,
I have many fond memories of Coach Muskett from Litchfield days. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time.
Marisa Stanley Wofford
September 26, 2012
Scott Smith
We will keep the Muskett Family in our prayers. God bless all of you.
September 26, 2012
Kevin, My thoughts are with you today.
Know that I love you. Aunt Bet
September 26, 2012
Bill Frazier
Gary can now play on a solid gold field and court.
September 26, 2012
Mark Hopper
My Thoughts and prayers are with the entire Muskett family. Fond memories of being a player and a frined.
September 26, 2012
Tommy Stanley
Kevin-
May God be with you and the family during this time. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
September 26, 2012
Joe Whitten
Ralph, I was sorry to read about your brother's death. You the family are in my thoughts and prayers.
September 26, 2012
Mike Argo
My prayers are with you all.
September 26, 2012
Tammi Maddock
Kevin and Ralph,
Please know that you all are in our thoughts and prayers during this time. We have many fond memories of all of our times together.
Sincerely,
Tammi Maddock Collins
September 26, 2012
Ray McClendon
May God Bless the Family
September 26, 2012
Lillie Williams
Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.
September 26, 2012
Tim Hathcock
All my best to Kevin and the rest of the Muskett family. I was just talking about Gary the other day. I have nothing but fond memories, even losing to teams he coached when I played, which happened often.
September 26, 2012
James Green
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
September 25, 2012
Peggy Brooks Parker
Ralph and Carolyn, I was so shocked to learn about Gary's passing today and I am so sorry for your loss. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this very difficult time. Much love, Peggy (Brooks)
September 25, 2012
Laura Hayes
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
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