Kathleen Beryl Gordon (nee Smith) of Longmont, Colorado, died peacefully surrounded by family on May 18, 2022, at the age of 76. The youngest of six children, she was born on June 2, 1945, in Decatur, Indiana, to Lowell and Beryl Smith. A life-long learner, Kate dedicated most of her professional life to teaching; starting with elementary students, she finished her career as a small-group instructor for high-school students with learning differences. Kate was always up for a new active hobby, and in her life ran many 5K and 10K races and triathlons, completed the Ride the Rockies bike tour six times, was an active downhill and cross-country skier and snowshoer, and enjoyed being outdoors for hiking and camping. Her love of the outdoors was also reflected in her magnificent garden, where she spent many happy hours planting, weeding, and nurturing flowers of all types.
She enjoyed a wide variety of creative pursuits, and journaled, sketched, painted, and did ceramics, as well as singing with the church choral group Wesley Anns. She participated in a range of community organizations, including serving on the Longmont Symphony Guild, and active work with PEO, including a term as the organization’s President. Actively curious, Kate loved traveling to new places and meeting new people. She visited Italy, France, the British Isles, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and Russia, where she reveled in new sights, sounds, tastes, and people. Her most lasting contribution, however, may be the way she nurtured and shaped the lives of her children and husband, always supporting whatever interest or talents they uncovered, helping them to become better people, all with love, sensitivity, and joy. Her sense of humor and infectious laugh attracted friends wherever she went and brightened whatever room she entered.
She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Dennis; her daughter Sara Birk and Sara’s partner James Keenan; her son Samuel Gordon and his wife Kerstin Caldwell; her son Robert Gordon and his wife Kate Gigliotti-Gordon; her grandchildren Amara Kendall Gordon, Rowan Seoras Gordon, Elliot Brewer Gordon, and Laszlo Dionisio Gordon; and her siblings Bill Smith and Anita Stahly. She is preceded in death by her parents Lowell and Beryl Smith, and her brothers Donald Smith, Biford Smith, and Medford Smith.
A Celebration of her Life will be held on Saturday, July 2, 2022 at 10 am at the Heart of Longmont Methodist Church, 350 11th Avenue, in Longmont.
In remembrance of Kate’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the PEO International (Philanthropic Educational Organization) scholarship fund or the Longmont Symphony Orchestra.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com for the Gordon family.
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