October 20, 1925 - November 9, 2018
A life well lived!
Gordon was born and raised in Wawota SK. Unable to obtain his parents' permission to join the air force, Gordon became a weather observation specialist with the Canadian DOT. Posted to the Yukon in 1943, it was here that his passion for the great outdoors with hunting, fishing and trapping blossomed. It was the winter of 1947, while posted in Snag, Yukon, that Gordon's name would become world famous. On February 3rd he recorded the coldest temperature in North America, -81.4F (-63C), a record that still stands.
In the summer of '47 Gordon took a posting to Pat Bay, B.C. Little did he know that this would set the course of life for the next 70 years. Through a mutual friend he met the love of his life, Rose, and they would wed in May of 1949. With a promise of "only two years" Gordon took Rose back to the Yukon, to Watson Lake.
They would never leave the Yukon. Watson Lake became their forever home. The beautiful log house, that Gordon built for Rose, on the shore of Watson Lake, was filled with the memories of raising four sons and two daughters. Gordon found the time to accomplish what many of us could only wish for. He obtained his pilot's licence and became a founding partner of Watson Lake Flying Service. He built a fishing lodge on Stewart Lake. He pioneered a world class big game outfitting business. These ventures hosted clients from around the globe.
In Watson Lake, to support his horses, he developed an award winning hay farm. Always dedicated to, and respected by his community, he took on the roles of Justice of the Peace and Coroner. Recognized by the Yukon Order Of Pioneers in 2003, Gordon and Rose became Mr. and Mrs. Yukon. Through all of this, his yearning for life on the trap line was the strongest. It was there that Gordon, with Rose as his assistant, said life was the best.
Devoted to his family, Gordon will forever be remembered by Rose, his loving wife of 69 years, and their children: twin boys Ronny(Lena) and Donny (Donna), Bobby (Debbra), Debbie (Darwyn), Patti (Brian), Jamie (Anne).
There's a land where the mountains are nameless,
And the rivers all run God knows where;
It's the great, big, broad land 'way up yonder,
It's the forests where silence has lease;
It's the beauty that thrills me with wonder,
It's the still ness that fills me with peace.