Gordon Alvin Grisham

Gordon was born in Pioneer, TX, the only child of Claud Vernon Grisham and Mary Undine Grisham (née Short). A popular student and basketball player at Bryson High School, he earned his pilot’s license before graduating in 1946 and went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas (then North Texas State).

After completing college, Gordon was certified as a teacher but he was ultimately drawn to military and government service. He enlisted in the U. S. Army, served in the Reserves, and attained the rank of First Lieutenant before his honorable discharge in 1960. Shortly thereafter, he embarked on his career as a Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Fort Worth, from which he retired in 1992 after 30 years of service.

Gordon was married to Joan Ann Grisham (née Dunson) of Fort Worth for 33 years until her death in 1985. He married a second time after he reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Bonnie Jean Gist ( née George) at their 50th high school reunion. Gordon and Bonnie enjoyed 21 years together before her death in 2018.

Curious, focused, and meticulously organized, Gordon had a lifelong passion for all things mechanical, especially trains, aircraft and vehicles. He was also an early and avid adopter of technology. Gordon was among the first in his circle of family and friends to embrace personal computers in the late 1980’s; more recently he easily mastered smartphones, using his to bank and shop online, to order Uber Eats, and to stay in touch with loved ones via cheerful, enthusiastic texts peppered with cleverly deployed emojis.

Besides transportation and technology, Gordon enjoyed swing/big band music. He loved playing spirited games of Train, 42, bridge and dominoes. A passionate fan of high school, college and pro sports, he was particularly devoted to the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, and the TCU Horned Frogs. Additionally, Gordon found himself becoming a doting cat dad late in life, adopting or befriending even the most skittish cats wherever he lived.

Throughout his life, Gordon was engaged in politics as a proud Democrat and strong in his faith as a gentle Christian, having been baptized in the Church of Christ as a teen.

Friendly, cheerful, patient, and even-tempered, Gordon made friends at every stage of his life; but he will be best remembered as a caring son, a devoted husband and a proud father and grandfather.

Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, Claud and Undine; by his first wife, Joan and his second wife, Bonnie; by his son, Terrence Alan Grisham and by his stepdaughter Kathy Gist Harrelson and her husband, Scott. He is survived, remembered and loved by many, including his daughters Mary Ann Grisham, and Sharon Kathleen Grisham; by his granddaughter Catherine Ann Cojocaru, his grandson Michael George Cojocaru, and by his granddaughter Austin Elizabeth Fairbanks (née Grisham), her husband, Christopher, and her mother Chandler Pollard Grisham; by his stepsons Roger B. Gist III and Robert Gist and their families; by his step grandson, Luc Cojocaru; and by his former daughter-in-law, Leslie Ann Dobbins.

Per Gordon’s wishes, he will be interred at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Services are tentatively scheduled for mid-June.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society (www.donate3.cancer.org); the Alzheimer’s Association - North Central Texas chapter (www.alz.org); Humane Society of North Texas (www.hsnt.org).