Dorothy Mae Gordon

Dorothy Mae Gordon went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. She was born to Charles and Florence (Harrington) Ingersoll on October 8, 1928, in Beloit, Kansas. Her parents moved to the West Coast with her four older siblings a few weeks later, eventually settling in California, where her two younger siblings were born. Dorothy graduated from Salinas High School in 1945. She met her husband, James O. Gordon, a World War II veteran, at the Church of the Nazarene in Watsonville, California, where they were married June 13, 1946.

Their first home was in Covina, California, where Jim attended Pacific Bible College, now Azusa Pacific University. After his graduation they moved to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, where they pastored their first church. Subsequent pastorates were in Orange Cove and Terra Bella, California, and Medford, Grants Pass and Coquille, Oregon. Their last pastorate was at the South Salem Church of the Nazarene. Dorothy participated in their ministry through leading youth groups, teaching adult Sunday School classes, and welcoming guests into their home. She was known for her gracious hospitality and her ability to put a meal together at a moment’s notice.

In support of her children’s educational pursuits, Dorothy managed large grocery store bakeries for several years. She was also the proprietor of Dot’s New to You in the early 1980s. During retirement she worked as a caregiver and volunteered many hours at the South Salem Senior Center. She headed up the activities and outings for senior adults in her later years at the South Salem church.

Dorothy loved to sing and used the gift of her beautiful soprano voice at church services, weddings, and funerals. Her children will always treasure the memory of hearing her sing hymns while she worked around the home. Other favorite pastimes included reading, thrift store shopping, ice cream outings, and birthday dinners with a circle of friends.

More than anything Dorothy loved being with her family. She will be missed by her daughters, Nancy Gordon of San Dimas, California; Judith Morrow of Quincy, California; and Rebecca Cobb of Portland; and her daughter-in-law, Jane Goldstein of Eugene; nine grandchildren, Mary Beth (Ben) James; Matthew (Katy) Gordon, Anna Gordon, and Eleanor Gordon (Adam); Shannon (Amira), Travis (Shawna) and Kalen (Haley) Morrow; Dara (Jim) Gossett and Ethan (Alyssa) Cobb. She is also survived by eleven great-grandchildren, with a twelfth on the way, and by one brother, Chuck Ingersoll of Macomb, Illinois, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; five of her siblings; her daughter, Patricia, and her son, James; and her granddaughters, Ann Marie Morrow and Melinda K. Gordon.

Her last eight years Dorothy resided at Redwood Heights Assisted Living. Her daughters are grateful to the wonderful staff there for their loving care. They also appreciate the support of her longtime friends Anita, Lisa and Marlene.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 18, at 2:00 p.m. at South Salem Church of the Nazarene, 1661 Boone Road S.E., Salem. Private interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery. Arrangements are by Howell, Edwards, Doerksen with Rigdon-Ransom Funeral Directors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Union Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 431, Salem, OR 97308 or South Salem Church of the Nazarene at the above address.