Muriel Gordon

Muriel was born in Gorgas Hospital, Ancon, Panama, Canal Zone on October 30, 1919. She was the second of five children of Mr. and Mrs. William Cuffy. She was raised and educated in Red Tank, Panama, Canal Zone.

Upon completion of high school, Muriel worked intermittently as a cashier, cook, and waitress in various clubhouses and commissaries throughout the Panama Canal Zone. She also worked independently as a hair dresser after completing certification from Poro Beauty College. She enjoyed playing the piano and singing, making and selling patties, coconut duros, codfish cakes, as well as playing pokeno and bingo, socializing with her friends, and selling miercolito in her small Paraiso community.

At age 26, Muriel married Thomas O. Gordon, her lifetime soul mate. They raised five children. Mrs. Gordon and her family lived in Paraiso, Panama, Canal Zone, and subsequently moved to their retirement home in Agua Buena, Panama. She and her husband migrated to the United States of America to be closer to their adult children and grandchildren.

Muriel traveled throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, and Hawaii, visiting with children, grandchildren, and friends. In 2007, desiring to return to Panama and to be close to her sister, Carmen Cuffy Wilson, Muriel moved into Tender Elite Loving Care, under the management of Uriah and Violeta Stewart. She remained in this facility until her final hospitalization at San Fernando Hospital. Muriel was a member of St. Johns Missionary Baptist Church, in Tampa, Florida, where she was baptized. Muriel is survived by her sister Carmen, her children Teresa Olivia Thomas, Graciela Maria Smith, Patricia Monica Gordon-Smith, Thomas Oliver Gordon, Jr., Barbara Jane Reaves, and her step son Jaime Singh; her grandchildren Sandra Follett, Vincent Steel, Jr., Ricardo Smith, Jr., Jessica Davis, Kim Kelly, Thomas Scott Gordon, John Anthony Gordon, Michael Reaves, Jr., Christopher Reaves, Anthony Reaves, and Sean Reaves; 30 great-grandchildren, her niece Beverly Wilson, as well as many other nieces and nephews, and in-laws, Basil Thomas, Ricardo Smith, Federico Smith, Jennifer Gordon, and Michael Reaves.

Mrs. Gordon’s body was flown from Panama City, Panama to Brandon, Florida, where she will be laid next to her husband Tommy at Hillsborough Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be held 4PM-6PM Sunday, January 30, 2011 at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be held 10AM Monday, January 31, 2011 at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home. Interment will immediately follow at Hillsboro Memorial Gardens.

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