Obituary of Colin Gordon

Colin Gordon slipped quietly away from these earthly bonds in his sleep in the early hours of the morning on August 12, 2011 at Santuari Hospice , Peter Lougheed Centre, in Calgary. Such an ending to this life, while unheralded, reflected Dads values of modesty and decisiveness. Much beloved father of Susan and Donald, and much beloved friend and supporter of his deceased former wife, Frances (Fran). Pre-deceased by his parents, Mary Christina and Kenneth Duncan, infant brother Alastair, and sister Ruth. Dad to many precious and precocious feline friends over the years including the late Tigger, Merlin, and little HT (short for either Heavenly Tabby or Holy Terror the former to Dad, the latter to the rest of the world: canine, feline, and human) for approximately 14 years. Mr. Walkies to the late Beckster and Maggie Muffin. As Dad said, who would have thought in retirement Mr. Walkies would have been his occupational title. Former foster Dad to Bangy the cat and friend to Corolla Kitty Cat and Annie, the dog. Dads principles, values, and character were molded by his first generation Scottish Presbyterian parents; the United Church; the activity of working in his parents grocery store(s) in Edmonton; his friends; his service in World War II; his education, both formal and informal; his family; and, as he would say, life. These experiences resulted in so many wonderful qualities and traits, and, in one person, including compassion, self-respect and respect for others, politeness, tolerance, decisiveness, a really wicked sense of humor and generosity. Dad also had the ability to be objective, or to borrow one of his favorite phrases, to be brutally realistic in his thoughtful analysis of situations and people. Such thoughts were always delivered in compassionate language, and, more often than not, with humor. As one friend recently said, she would miss those smart sayings of Colins. The value and necessity of education was also a recurring theme as well as physical ability in sports. Dads unique ability to synthesize such values resulted in one teacher saying if he did more homework and spent less time at the Y his marks would be better. Dad did not believe in homework. However, such a belief did not result in any impediment to higher education. Rather, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta and a Master of Commerce from the University of Toronto. The value of education was also instilled in his children as each one completed three university degrees. Dad was always grateful to Veterans Affairs Canada for their assistance in providing a grant for post-secondary education following his WWII service in the RCAF. He primarily served in radar (radar mechanic) in the Scilly Isles, in Cornwall. His short story about his war experiences was published, along with others, and is in a volume in the library, in St. Marys in the Scilly Isles. After graduation from U of T, Dad proudly spent all of his professional working life with Canadian General Electric (CGE,) starting on the audit trail and concluding as Manager/Specialist, Management and Professional Compensation. Dads diverse interests included wine making; designing a cottage in Manitoba in the 60s; jogging into his seventies; walking his canine charges into his early eighties; gardening to the point that neighbors in Calgary used to take pictures of his back yard; and, of course, looking out for and after Fran and her house in Calgary. He also continued his life-long interest in reading on a variety of topics including religion, history, economics, mysteries, gardening, and subscribing to such magazines as The Economist and MacLeans, to name a few. However, at times frugality and practicality fought with finer considerations after Merlin, the black cat, fell into a vat in his wine-making process. After some deliberation and much persuasion, he agreed to dump the contents. Merlins coat never looked glossier! Dad treasured his friendships, both long-term and more recent, including those with the Pattisons of Toronto and Mrs. Manor (and her late husband, Fred) of Victoria, his relatives in Scotland, Ruth and Cecil Hess of Calgary, and his young lady, Eileen Clark, who took Dad out for adventures every Thursday in the last year or two. Dad also enjoyed talking to his (former) neighbors, membership and association with the Scenic Acres Community Association Seniors Group, and latterly visiting with the folks at Scenic Acres Retirement Residence (SARR). We wish to thank caring individuals over the last two years who helped take care of Dad (as much as he would allow them) including those at the Fanning Centre, SARR, Foothills Medical Centre and the Hospice. At those facilities he was variously described as adorable, stubborn, a good man and a gentleman. Of course, no tribute would be complete without a sincere, heartfelt, and so grateful thank you to Dr. Rick Ward who, in Dads words, kept him alive for over 20 years, and the equally wonderful staff at Crowfoot Village Family Practice. Susan also wishes to thank Eileen Clark and Marshall Hansen, Mary and Art Davis Q.C., Robin Samer, the Hess family, past and present colleagues and friends at The AC, and her neighbors: the Al Alousi, Brownsey, and Purcell families for their unending support and kindness in this so challenging time. No funeral by request. Private cremation has occurred. If desired donations to a charity of your choice. Dad said when Fran died our profound grief and sense of loss was a measure of the love we had for her. If we accept that premise, then Dad, our love for you, notwithstanding general accounting principles, is too great and too awesome to be quantified. Please charge your glasses and raise your wee dram in a toast to Mr. Colin Gordon, who not only tried, but he also succeeded. We love you and salute you. HERITAGE FUNERAL SERVICES Heritage Funeral Home Telephone: 299-0100