Donald J. Gordon

Donald J. Gordon, 88, of Sedalia, died Friday, June 30, 2017. He was born September 22, 1928, in Cole County, Missouri, the eighth of nine children born to the late Enos Louis and Emma Margaret (Zink) Gordon. On May 8, 1954, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Lohman, he married Lillian Viola Fischer, who survives of the home. Don was raised and educated in rural Cole County. He was a 1946 graduate of Russellville High School. He served his country honorably 1950-1952 in the US Army. He worked in auto body repair as a young adult and in 1957 took a position with MFA Insurance Company (now Shelter Insurance Company). This career change led Don and Viola to Sedalia. In the early 1960s, they purchased a farm in Bowling Green Township and have made their home there for over 50 years. Later he took a position with Concordia Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, retiring in 1982. After retirement he was able to devote himself to full time farming. He was a faithful member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Sedalia. He was a member of 40&8 and was proud to have participated in the laying of the wreath at Arlington National Cemetery on a group tour to Washington D.C. in September 2005. Don had a strong work ethic. He was an innovator, and was creative with his use of materials. As a child of the Depression, he found a purpose for everything. If he didn't find an immediate purpose for an object, it found a place in the junk pile in front of the machine shop. Don was committed to his family, service to others, and was always available for support and advice. In addition to his wife of 63 years, he is survived by three children: Sarah Gordon Crabtree and her husband James of Jefferson City, Timothy Allen Gordon and his wife Jeanne, and Donna Ruth Plummer, all of Sedalia; six grandchildren: Michaela Anne Templemire of Columbia, Jessica Marie Durham and her husband Christopher of Gig Harbor, Wash., Matthew Gordon Dines and his wife Jennifer, Christopher Michael Kemp, all of Seattle, Wash., Jeremy Jay Allan Gordon of Sedalia, and Cassandra Marie Plummer of Lee's Summit; three great-grandsons: Jack Liam Dines, Oliver Ezra Dines and Ira Grady Durham; one sister: Arnelia H. "Nicky" Amos of Sedalia; two sisters-in-law: Lorraine Gordon of O'Fallon, and Helen Laughlin and her husband, the Reverend Walter Laughlin, of Topeka; and many beloved nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by seven siblings: Ruth Benson, Arthur Gordon, Alyce Yeast, Earman Gordon, Delmar Gordon, Wilbur "Rip" Gordon and Vernon "Jack" Gordon; two nephews: Michael Gordon and Patrick Gordon; and a niece, Linda Maurer. Funeral service will be 11 a.m., Monday, July 3, 2017, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Sedalia with Pastor Jeremy Freeman officiating. Burial will be 3 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Lohman with full military honors at graveside. Friends may call after 12:00 p.m., Sunday, July 2, 2017 at McLaughlin Funeral Chapel, 519 S. Ohio, Sedalia, with the family present from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. The family suggests memorial contributions to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Benton County Hospice or Lutheran Hour Ministries in care of McLaughlin Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be offered online at www.mclaughlinfuneralchapel.com.