Reginald Lee "Tiny" Gaston

Funeral services for Reginald Lee 'Tiny' Gaston, 84, of Richmond, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday March 14, 2014 in the Chapel of Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Home in Rosenberg with graveside service following at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Rosenberg. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Thursday, March 13, 2014 in the Chapel of Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Home in Rosenberg. Tiny was born on May 13, 1929 in Cransfills Gap, Texas to Raymond and Alice MacDougal Gaston. His family moved to Richmond in 1942, when he was 13. He attended Richmond High School where he played football and his coach gave him his nickname "Tiny" that has lasted his entire lifetime. He began his career in law enforcement at the age of 18. While living in Richmond he met his true love Margaret Fishar. They married on April 11, 1950. Tiny served as the night deputy for the Ft. Bend County Sheriff's Department from 1948-1949. He was a police officer in charge of the newly created night patrol from 1949-1950. He then moved to the Richmond Police Department in 1950 as their first Police Chief – the youngest police chief in the nation. He was always grateful to Mayor Hilmer Moore for giving him the opportunity to serve as police chief. He served in that position until 1954. He moved to the Ft. Bend County Sheriff's Department in 1955 as the Chief Deputy. In 1958, he became Sheriff of Ft. Bend County. During his tenure as Sheriff he served as the President of the Sheriff's Association of Texas in 1971-1972. In 1972-1973 he was Chairman of the Sheriff's Association of Texas. He continued his law enforcement career as Lieutenant in charge of the Criminal Investigation Division with the Ft. Bend County Sheriff's Department. In 1985 he ventured into the private sector working with American Pipeline Corporation as a Security and Public Relations Consultant. In 1989 he successfully ran for and was elected Constable of Precinct 1 in Ft. Bend County. He retired in January 2000 after 51 years in law enforcement. He was a lifelong member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Richmond. He was a 60 year member and past Master of Morton Masonic Lodge #72. He was also a Past Master of East Bernard Masonic Lodge #817, Scottish Rite, Fort Bend County Shrine Club, Arabia Shriners, Ft. Bend Commandry and Richmond Chapter and Council. Tiny was a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as well as a lifetime member of the Ft. Bend County Fair Association. Tiny and his wife Margaret owned several businesses together in Ft. Bend County including the Dairy Maid, washateria, and they ran a shrimp boat Margaret F.. Tiny and Margaret enjoyed 53 years together here and now will be able to spend eternity together in heaven. Tiny enjoyed supporting his children and grandchildren in their endeavors. He supported his grandsons by attending their sporting events and sponsoring their baseball teams. Any girl in the family that was in Girl Scouts could always count on him to purchase cookies from them, usually cases at a time. He passed away peacefully on March 10, 2014 in Richmond, Texas. He is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Alice Gaston and his siblings, Curtis Gaston, Raymond 'Skeeter' Gaston, Opal Elliott and baby sister Wanda. Tiny is survived by his sister Pat Wynn, and husband, Albert "Robby"; sister-in-law Audrey Gaston; children, Reginald Lee Gaston, Jr., and wife, Edy; Debbie Kelley and husband, Wayne; grandchildren Michael Gaston and wife Michele, Robert Gaston and wife, Julie, Lisa Hebert and husband, Aaron, Cody Kelley, Jordan Kelley and wife, Bethany, Dayna Kelley; great granddaughters, Meagan Gaston, Nichole Bing, Shelby Jones, and Tina Jones; along with numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Pallbearers are Michael Gaston, Robert Gaston, Cody Kelley, Jordan Kelley, Ken Dillon, and Dustin Black. For those wishing, donations may be made in memory of Tiny to Morton Masonic Lodge Scholarship Fund or East Bernard Masonic Lodge Scholarship Fund.

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Reginald Lee "Tiny" Gaston

May 13, 1929 - March 10, 2014