JACKIE L. GORDON

NEVADA- Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Ferry Funeral Home for Jackie L. Gordon, 82, Nevada, who died Monday, April 23, 2018, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. Burial will follow in Newton Burial Park. The family will receive friends prior to the service, beginning at 10 a.m.

Memorials are suggested in his memory to Vernon County Cancer Relief, in care of the funeral home.

The obituary may be viewed and condolences sent online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn; three children, Kathy Smith and husband Leon, Nevada, Kenton Gordon and wife Terri, Diamond and Kerry Gordon, Nevada; four grandchildren, Eric Smith and wife Bouaphanh, Darya Collins, Thad Gordon and Kristi Gordon; four great-grandchildren, Evan Smith, Ethan Smith, Ty Kalleck and Blade Kalleck; one sister, Rosalee Potter, Lamar and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Willis Gordon, Glenn Gordon and Paul Gordon; two sisters, Edna Rice and husband Howard and Dulcie Rice and husband Marvin; one brother-in-law, Rollin Potter and one granddaughter, Amanda Smith.

Mr. Gordon was born July 27, 1935, in Sheldon, to Clarence A. and Mattie Mae (Stone) Gordon. He was a lifelong resident of Vernon County. From 1953-1955 he served in the United States Army, stationed at Ft. Riley and later Camp Carson, Colo., where he was discharged from in 1955. Upon his return to Vernon County he began working at Nevada State Hospital, where he worked for 35 years and three months until his retirement in 1991.

He enjoyed camping, fishing, going on cruises, crafts (turtles), coon hunting and traveling and had visited all 50 states.

He married Carolyn Mae Royston on Dec. 23, 1955, in Lamar.