Guy L. Mordeaux Jr.

Guy L. Mordeaux Jr., age 90, of Castle Rock, Colorado passed away on Monday, February 17, 2025. He was born on September 13, 1934 in Pueblo, Colorado, the son of Guy Linville Mordeaux, Sr. and Marjorie (Kloepfer) Mordeaux. Guy married Kathy Flaherty and they celebrated many years of marriage together before Guy's passing. Guy proudly served in the US Army Reserves and devoted his life to education and helping others exceed through potential through education, knowledge, and compassion.

A celebration of Guy's life will be at 1:00pm on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at Christ's Episcopal Church, Castle Rock. The family invites you to leave fond memories, photos, and words of inspiration on his tribute page at www.OlingerAndrews.com

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the University of Denver Scholarship Fund

Make checks out to University of Denver Scholarship Fund

Write University of Denver Scholarship Fund and In Memory of Guy Mordeaux in the memo line.

Mail to: University of Denver, PO Box 9105825 Denver, CO 80291-0585

Or to donate Online Go to Give.DU.EDU Type in University of Denver Scholarship Fund in the designation

Box. Scroll down and find the in Memory Of box and type in Guy Mordeaux.

Donations may also be made to Christ’s Episcopal Church, 615 Fourth Street, Castle Rock CO 80104.

Celebration of 90 Full Years of Life -- and Still Counting

This is better than an obituary, because I get to edit it! --Guy

One of the guiding lights of my life has been my love for learning and teaching. Anyone who knows me will tell you I always have several books going and can't resist sharing what I discover. I even find myself teaching in a casual conversation sometimes. As Robert Fulghum's story describes it, I'm not the source of knowledge, but only see myself as a little mirror that simply shines light into dark places. As I read Fulghum's story a number of years ago, I began to understand who I am and what my life has been about and should continue to be.

I was born on Friday the 13 of September, 1934 - For me, a Lucky Day! -- to Dr. Lin and Margery Mordeaux in Pueblo, Colorado. Three and a half years later, I was joined by my brother Corry. He and his wife Boots currently live just outside Billings, Montana. They have two daughters, Denise and Gina, my delightful nieces, and for Corry two grandchildren, for me two amazing grand-nieces, Kayla and Kiley. I was born during the Great Depression, and spent much of my childhood living through World War II.

During the War years my father was an Army Dentist, so we moved around a lot, and I spent time in many schools all over Denver. In a military world, everyone moves frequently, so I learned there was no such thing as a stranger - there was no time! I learned to reach out and get to know people quickly and I still do.

My love for books really began in fifth grade, when I spent the whole year in bed with rheumatic fever. Books and old-time radio were salvation for me, and I suspect for my mother as well, who read those books to both me and my brother frequently. Eventually we landed back in Pueblo, where I repeated fifth grade and eventually graduated from Centennial High School. One of the highlights of my high school was participation in the Debate Team, a group that was highly skilled in debating, won both state and national championships regularly, and whose members still stay in touch.

After high school, I left Pueblo for Rochester, New York where I got a degree in emulsion photography, including the advanced chemistry that requires, from RIT. Even more important, while there I met my adopted sister Jackie, who lived in the apartment next door. I fell in love with this beautiful red-haired 9 year old gift, and she with me. She loved to spend time with me, riding on my shoulders through some of the scariest parts of downtown Rochester, even sometimes accompanying me to class. I soon realized she was becoming the sister I never had. Jackie needed a brother and I needed a sister, so we adopted each other. We continued to be siblings of choice the rest of our lives, enjoying frequent phone calls and visits, until her death just a few years ago. Through her, I realized that I needed to be a teacher, so when I went back to Colorado I signed up for a teaching degree at UNC in Greeley.

A life-long student, I completed 4 college degrees, the one in Emulsion Photography from RIT, a Business degree from Pueblo State College, a degree in Physical Science and teaching certificate from UNC. Still feeling not educated enough I went back for a Master's Degree in Audio Visual Education also from UNC. In my retirement, I have done countless adult ed courses at various institutions, and now am working on a variety of college courses on DVD from The Great Courses company.

Back in 1961, as a newly certified teacher, I arrived in a tiny rural school in Kiowa, where for 8 years I taughts 5 subjects, General Science, Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics as well as developing an independent study program for students who wanted things not offered, including an AP program before it was called that. Though I didn't know it then, I was also getting acquainted with my future wife Kathy Flaherty, now Mordeaux, then a student at Kiowa. Years laters, when Kathy was in graduate school at the University of Denver, we realized we wanted to be life partners as well as friends and were married, walking down the aisle to the sounds of Debussy's Claire de Lune, a favorite for both of us. We continue to share a deep love of books and learning, of teaching, and of music. Kathy became a teacher also, teaching English and Music in college, high school and elementary, and now as Director of Music here at Christ's Church. Just recently we celebrated our 50th Wedding anniversary in a big celebration here.

While I was teaching in Kiowa, I also met a young woman named Peggy. Desiring a non-romantic friendship, she asked me if I would be her uncle. I said yes and so began a wonderful relationship that has benefited both of us all of our lives. To this day she still calls me Uncle Guy. When Peggy's son Michael was born, I automatically became his uncle too. Thought Kathy and I never had children of our own, we are delighted to have Michael in our lives, sharing birthdays, celebrations, study projects, and musical performances; Michael is now a professional musician, a talented clarinet and saxophone player, who still visits us when he is on break from his teaching job at the School of the Arts in Iceland.

Over the years, I also taught at Pueblo, Littleton, Byers, worked for Denver University, and created the Audio Visual department for the Englewood School District. On weekends and summers, I taught classes in Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense for the Army Reserve. I completed 27 years in the Reserve, after which I qualified for Military retirement benefits. At my retirement from Englewood Schools, I had nearly 30 years in Public Education, and also qualified for Colorado Teacher retirement. After that, I subbed for 20 years in Elizabeth High School and Alternative High School, then helped create the FED program at the Douglas County Library and served in it for 6 years.

The organizations I have belonged to have helped me as much as I have helped them. I belonged to professional groups such as Colorado Education Association, National Education Association, Colorado Association of Science Teachers, the National Science Teachers Association, and Delta Lambda Epsilon (professional photographic association). I was a member and an officer in Rocky Mountain Skeptics, Dr Watsons Neglected Patients (a Sherlock Holmes society), and the Castle Rock Historical Society and Museum, serving as Museum Presented for many visiting fieldtrips.

After 90 years of living, I still see myself as that little mirror, reflecting light into dark spaces. I continue to enjoy reading, studying, and sharing what I learn with those around me. My favorite music still include Claire de Lune; the Beatles' When I'm 64, and Eleanor Rigby; and Earl Klug's jazz guitar. And perhaps the most important piece to mention here, is Barbara Streisand's People who Need People, as what I have enjoyed most in all the parts of my life has been the people, and you still are. Thank you all!

--Guy Mordeaux, September 13, 2024