Raymond Howard Gordon
May 24, 1931 – October 10, 2021
As published in the November 15, 2021 World-Spectator
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our dear Dad, Raymond Howard Gordon, at Peace Villa in Fort St. John, B.C. on Sunday, October 10, 2021, with family by his side. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Fort St. John later in the Spring of 2022.
One of seven children, Ray was born May 24, 1931 in Moosomin, Saskatchewan on the farm of Howard and Mary (Muzylouski) Gordon. He is predeceased by his older siblings and their spouses—Lawrence (Joan), Lorraine (Roy) and Bob (Kathy)—and survived by Pearl, Grace and Eva (Alex).
His father’s family was well known for their prize Aberdeen Angus cattle and Ray showed his steers at the Regina Fairs. He often drove his younger sisters, Pearl and Grace, to the country school in a horse and buggy. He drove fast so they could be the first ones at school and play a game of ‘scrub’.
One of Ray’s main jobs on the farm was to haul wood and his youngest sister, Eva, often rode on the wood wagon.
Outside the farm, Ray played hockey and was known for his speed and agility on the ice. He eventually joined the Wapella Black Hawks. All his life Dad loved following hockey on TV.
Our father worked many jobs to support his parents and their Saskatchewan farm. He left school early and operated a variety of machines and equipment while working on many pipeline projects. In 1955, when he was 24 years old, he joined the IUOE-Local 115 and was a proud lifetime member of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
In December 1957, Ray met Helen Hutchinson, our mother, at Midnight Mass in Moosomin. They married six months later (May 12, 1958), and both worked and travelled as Dad followed the pipeline construction across Canada. Their first four children—Marie, Antonio (Mark), Jo-Ann and Gerard—were born in Revelstoke, B.C. The youngest, Barbara, was born in Fort St. John, B.C.
Over the years, Dad and Mom took us on road trips to visit our relatives in Saskatchewan. Dad thoroughly enjoyed these social gatherings.
Operating a D6 Cat on the W.A.C. Bennett Dam, Ray worked from 1964 to its completion in 1968. During that time, after one of his shifts, he slept in the doorway of the Fort St. John Land Title Office to be the first in line to bid on a parcel of land. On this land, Ray and Helen built their first house on the Old Montney Road (now 271st Road) outside of Fort St. John and raised their five children. As a working farm, we helped raise cattle, horses and family pets and maintained large vegetable gardens. Carrying on the Gordon tradition, we were involved in 4-H. Dad instilled a strong work ethic in all of us kids and was proud of our endeavours. In 2009, Ray and Helen moved from the farm into a house in Fort St. John.
Our Dad was a determined ‘go-getter,’ full of heart ♥, in all that he did throughout his life. Ray’s love of animals, especially dogs, the land and machinery was evident. He also liked listening to the news and had opinions about things happening in the world. Dad was known for his kindness and generosity to his family.
Ray is remembered with love by his wife of 63 years, Helen; their children Marie (Jean), Antonio (Selena), Jo-Ann (Tony), Gerard (Karen) and Barbara; their grandchildren Colin, Graham, Jacob and Ruby; his sisters, Pearl, Grace and Eva (Alex); his nieces and nephews (and their families); and many cousins. Ray will remain in our hearts forever.
Look at a beautiful sunset or Northern Lights and think of Ray. May he rest in Peace.
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