Gordon Lloyd Heard

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Gordon Lloyd Heard, it summarized in every way who he was. He was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around him and always thinking before acting. He was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything he did. He was a friendly person who truly cared about those around him.

      Gordon was born on December 20, 1928 at Bowmanville Hospital in Bowmanville, ON. He was the son of Wesley and Gwendolyn. Raised in Bowmanville, he was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, he learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that he would carry with him throughout his life.

      As a young boy, Gordon was always aware of how others around him felt and this quality served him well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Gordon was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if Gordon was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where he could concentrate, Gordon also had the ability to relate well with his family and friends. Gordon was raised with one sibling. He had a younger sister, Yvonne. Gordon was constantly involved in activities with his family. Gordon and Yvonne had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

      Growing up, Gordon was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. He was content to entertain himself. Gordon was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, he was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. Gordon was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around him. Gordon took part in a number of activities as a child. Gordon's memorable achievements included working and helping others.

      Gordon enjoyed learning. He always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. Gordon was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. He often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Gordon was painstaking and accurate in his efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. Gordon enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. His favorite class in high school was woodworking.

      Most folks would say that Gordon was shy until they got to know him. Those who were privileged to know him well learned that he was a solid, good friend. Gordon was reluctant to generalize about people, and he based his friendships on his personal experiences. Because of this, Gordon best trusted those people that he truly knew. He was concerned about how those around him felt, and he always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. He could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that he made, Gordon kept. While growing up, one of his best friends was Herb Ridder. Later in life, he became friends with Bill and Shirley MacDonald and Walter Hendricks.

      Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Gordon. On August 13, 1966 Gordon married Jean Luella White at Huntsville Pentecostal Church of Huntsville, ON. He was totally committed to Jean and maintained traditional ideals about marriage. It was as if Gordon naturally sensed his spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although Gordon disliked conflict, he did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.

      Gordon was a good father to his children. He had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because he trusted emotions, Gordon was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way he seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around him, always thinking before acting. In addition, Gordon was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around him might be, he seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Gordon was blessed with two (2) children, one son, Jeff and one daughter, Wendy. They were also blessed with two grandaughters, Morgan and Taiya.

      If you gave Gordon a deadline, he would meet it. At work, Gordon was always on task. Without hesitation, Gordon could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. His primary occupation was assembler. He was employed for 35 years at General Motors. During that time, Gordon excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. He was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Gordon was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Gordon had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. He was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

      Gordon liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Gordon's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Gordon preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were gardening, woodworking, puzzles and stamp collecting. Gordon was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying his hobbies all by himself and could often be found just reading about his favorite pastimes.

      Due to his excellent organizational skills, Gordon was a welcome addition to the professional and community organizations to which he belonged. Gordon could bring established, successful methods to the discussion table, along with a generous helping of common sense. Gordon was good at making and keeping schedules and never got bogged down in unnecessary details. Throughout his later years, Gordon was an active member of the Courtice Baptist Church.

      An individual who respected and maintained traditional values, his faith was important to Gordon. His compassion, consideration and sympathy toward others was evident in his personal beliefs. He was a member of the Lighthouse Baptist Church for 6 years. During that time, he was a labourer. He would fix anything that needed repair, cut the lawn and loved men's breakfast.

      Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Gordon had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that he was the trip planner. He would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations included cottaging in Huntsville, and driving to PEI and Florida.

      Gordon had Scotchie, a poodle/shih tzu, who was his best friend for 17 years. His family was rounded out by his dogs, cat, hedgehog, budgies, squirrels, chipmunk and even a pet raccoon. Gordon was as loyal to his pets as they were to him.

      When Gordon's retirement finally arrived in 1996, he was well prepared. He had taken the time to learn about his various options and chose his course wisely. In retirement, he found new pleasure in gardening and meeting new neighbours in the growing neighbourhood. Even in retirement, Gordon continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered him.

      Gordon passed away on March 20, 2015 at Lakeridge Hospital, Oshawa, Ontario. He fought Alzheimers's, broke his hip and died peacefully. He is survived by his children Jeff (wife Marla), Wendy (Ron) and grandaughters Morgan and Taiya. Also, his sister Yvonne. Services were held at Courtice Funeral Chapel. Gordon was laid to rest in Bowmanville Cemetery.

      It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Gordon was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. Gordon was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of man to whom everyone was drawn. He was thorough and practical. Gordon Heard was very literal with his words. You always knew where you stood with Gordon. He will be missed.

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Gordon Lloyd Heard

December 20, 1928 to March 20, 2015

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Gordon Lloyd Heard. Beloved husband of Jean for 48 years. Loving father to Jeff (Marla) and Wendy (Ron). Cherished Poppa to Morgan and Taiya. Brother to Yvonne Johnson. Gordon will be missed by Jean's sister and brothers, his nieces, nephews and their families, as well as the congregation at Lighthouse Baptist Church.

He retired from General Motors in 1994, after 35 years of service. He then spent the majority of his time outdoors taking care of his yard and gardening. The last few years kept him busy watching the growth of the neighbourhood and meeting new neighbours. Most of all, Gordon enjoyed working around the house he built and lived in, as well as labouring for the Lord.

Resting at the COURTICE FUNERAL CHAPEL, 1587 Highway 2, Courtice, 905-432-8484, with visitation on Sunday, March 22, 2015 from 4:00 to 8:00 and funeral service on Monday, March 23 at 11:00am. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Society of Durham Region or Lighthouse Baptist Church (Courtice). Online condolences may be placed at www.courticefuneralchapel.com