Gordon was born on June 1, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois to Gordon Ehlers Oliver and Elizabeth Schnerr Oliver. He was an only child. He moved to California as a child and attended schools in Long Beach until 10th grade. He graduated from Rancho Alamitos High School in Garden Grove in 1962. He studied Mathematics and Physics at the University of California at Los Angeles and Berkeley. After college, he played bass for a short while in a folk/rock band with two of his high school friends. He enjoyed the life of a surfer in Kauai, HI for a period. He also enjoyed many years of paragliding.
Gordon moved to San Luis Obispo and started the Hanson’s Maintenance business in the late 1970’s with friend Ken Hanson. He met his wife DeAnn Huff while working out at the gym. They were married in Big Sur, CA in 1999. Daughter Emily Elizabeth was born in 2001. Gordon was an artist and self-taught woodworker; he beautifully restored a historic home in San Luis Obispo before selling it and and his business of over 30 years in 2011 and moving to Los Osos to retire.
Gordon enjoyed playing the piano, hiking and backpacking. His favorite places were the Sierras and Death Valley. He enjoyed life-long friendships with Don Guild, Doug Rhodes and Doug Rowell. He will be missed for his intellect, wit and ability to “figure anything out”. Gordon was proud of 33 years of sobriety. He was most proud of raising and mentoring his daughter Emily.
Gordon is survived by his 16-year-old daughter Emily Oliver, ex-wife DeAnn Huff Oliver, Aunt MaryAnne and cousins Joe, Amy, Anne, Eileen, Marcela and their children.
No services are planned. Sign his guestbook at…… Remember him when you watch a sunset.
His daughter Emily writes: “He was Bach on the harpsichord, the sun setting over the Sierras, fresh baked pizza, and pure, radiant warmth”.
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