Ted Gordon

For those who knew Ted Gordon best, he was easy to love, even with his ornery personality, and he could take it just as much as he could dish it out. The same was true for his sense of humor which got the best of many through the years! Above all, family was the center of Teds heart. He was a hard worker and provided well for the family entrusted to his care, but above all, there was nothing that made Ted happier than spending time surrounded by those he loved.

By 1947, the end of World War II found the baby boom well on its way as families faced a housing shortage. Many young couples beginning families of their own lived with their parents for a time while newly developed suburban neighborhoods were being built, and in high demand. The post war economy boomed as the need for consumer goods rose, and manufacturing jobs were plentiful. Through these changing times, Tony Gordon and Betty (Myers) Hall added to the boom with the birth of their little boy, Ted Gordon, born on January 20, 1947 at Lucky Hospital in the small community of Wolf Lake, Indiana.

Although born in Wolf Lake, Ted grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana alongside his siblings where he led a childhood typical of his generation. Raised during a time of progress and innovation in the U.S., the holidays were spent surrounded by family where numerous memories were made. Ted also enjoyed his many neighborhood friends, and found his share of shenanigans, too.

For a young boy like Ted, anything to do with cowboys got his attention, and fast. Cowboys and John Wayne went hand-in-hand, and watching Roy Rogers and his sidekick, Trigger on TV was a treat. Forever a fan of the Duke, Ted and his brothers played cowboys and Indians at a time when getting a holstered gun set or a coonskin cap under the Christmas tree topped the wish lists of many young boys. Ted once tied his brother, Wayne to a tree and lit the rope on fire, causing him several minor burns. The boys even went so far as to spray paint their dads tools to be used as their weapons which didnt go over too well with their upset father!

Ted attended the area schools and along with his studies, he was a hard and eager worker. He began working in a greenhouse around the age of 12 for a dollar a day, and even at his young age, he liked having a few bucks in his pocket. While attending South Side High School, Ted landed a job at the local malt shop where in time he met the young girl who stole his heart. Ted was 18, and even though Sherrel Grace Bailey was 16, she didnt fall for Ted too easily. In fact, she was not too impressed by him at first. Sometime later, she ran into Ted at a mutual friends house and got to know him better. Far from her initial impression, she found him to be quite nice. The two dated for the next year and on October 22, 1966, Ted and Sherrel were happily married.

To support his new bride, Ted took a job in an area factory for a brief time before he began driving over-the-road semi-trucks at the age of 21. During this time, Ted and Sherrel began a family of their own which came to include Kenny, Dana, Kim, Tony, Crystal, and Gale. Although Sherrel rode with Ted occasionally, she never liked being away from the kids and there clearly wasnt enough room for each of them in the truck.

Ted loved the open road. He enjoyed driving trucks so much he got both of his brothers into it. In fact, his brother, Wayne still drives to this day. Ted traveled far and wide throughout his long haul journeys and as always, he was sure to bring his sweetheart, Sherrel a little gift from each state he had been in. Following his job driving truck for the Crosby Group where he worked for over 25 years, Ted moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1990. One of many Crosby Group drivers across the nation, Ted went on to be awarded Driver of the Year for his company for which he was extremely honored and proud. Always the hard worker, Ted was in his 47th year of driving and through the years earned many awards. He also held the prestigious distinction of having completed over three million miles, accident and ticket free.

Despite the many accolades and recognition he received, foremost in Teds heart was the family he loved. Family was important to Ted. If given the choice, he would easily be with family over spending a night out at the movies or some other event. Great memories can be recalled enjoying family events, wonderful dinners and simply just visiting on the weekends Ted was home from the road. He especially loved seeing and spending time with his grandchildren.

To wind down, Ted liked playing Solitaire, with real cards, and could stay up all night long sitting at his card table putting together a jig-saw puzzle. Never one for sports, Ted enjoyed watching a good western on TV. He was an avid Clint Eastwood fan, and had all of John Waynes western movies. Ted also enjoyed and appreciated horses. Sometimes he even went to a ranch just outside of Tulsa to ride the horses there. He preferred them to walk, and never coaxed them to run or trot. Quite fond of his pointy-toed cowboy boots, Ted joked that they were cockroach killers as he could squash a bug in a corner if he needed to, although he never did.

Even at the age of 68, Ted was still actively driving. He had just returned home from his normal Tulsa to Texas route the day prior to his passing, which was a blessing for Ted to be home enjoying the love of family. A true cowboy at heart, perhaps the open road was Teds wild range where he roamed free. In all ways, he was a hardworking man who, even though he loved being on the road, made sacrifices for doing what he did best. Although deeply missed, gone but never to be forgotten are the memories Ted leaves behind.

Ted Gordon, 68, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away at 1:55 p.m. Saturday, August 29, 2015 at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Survivors include his loving wife of 49 years, Sherrel Gordon; children, Kenny Gordon of Hartwell, GA, Dana (Chris) Reber of Ft. Wayne, Kim (Bob) Sutton of Ft. Wayne, Tony Gordon, Crystal Gordon and Gale Gordon, all of Tulsa; brothers, Fred (Christina) Gordon of Huntington, Wayne (Virginia) Gordon of Janesville, WI and Kenny Gordon of Ft. Wayne; sisters, Judy (Matt) Barnes of Ft. Wayne and Vicky Ashcraft of Celina, OH; two stepsisters, Grace (Mike) Kelly and Donna Diss both of Ft. Wayne; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Ted was preceded in death by his parents; and stepsister, Sherry Morton.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 4, 2015 from 4-8 p.m. at Blackhawk Ministries, 7400 E State Blvd, Fort Wayne. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church with calling one hour prior. Pastor Donald Tyler will be officiating. Burial will follow at Christian Chapel Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Wellspring. Arrangements with DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, Columbia City. To share a favorite memory of Ted or to send his family condolences, please visit www.demoneygrimes.com .