Gordon Lee Akeson

Gordon was an Oregon boy. Born in the old St. Vincent’s hospital on NW Westover, lived on Overlook in north Portland until he was eight, then moved with his family to Damascus where his parents, Esther Louan Stradinger Akeson and Karl Aldo Akeson, purchased 40 acres and raised filberts.

These were post-Depression times—everybody worked. At the same time, those were the days when boys could run free in the woods and fish in the streams. Gordon had many wonderful childhood memories including a loving family, his parents, and brothers Merle and Tom, and friends.

At 17, Gordon was hired right out of high school by Pacific Northwest Bell as a construction lineman on the northwest coast from Newport to Astoria. After four years, Gordon felt he needed a life change and enlisted in the Airforce, stationed in Syracuse, NY, deployed for a year to a fighter base in Osan, Korea. Gordon met Delores while in Syracuse and following discharge in 1955, they were married.

After discharge, Gordon returned to the telephone company as an installer in Astoria and shortly after that began a career across Oregon helping with Central Office switching conversion in Bend, Baker City, Pendleton, Eugene, Salem, and Portland. He advanced his career to District Manager in Portland which led to District Special Services for the State of Oregon. In 1987, after 38 years, Gordon retired from U.S. West to take care of his wife, Delores, in the advanced stages of cancer. She passed away in 1993.

Gordon served on his Credit Union Board of Directors for 36 years, Board Chair for six years, Director Emeritus three years. Gordon became an admired leader and mentor at both firms.

While in Astoria, Gordon developed a lifelong friendship with Willard Ivanoff, his hunting and fishing buddy for over 60 years, hunting all over Oregon and in Alaska. Gordon birded with his long-time partner, Barbara, travelling in Europe and the United States.

Gordon was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral for many years where he and Barbara met on the Community Education Committee in 1995, forming a 29-year loving, outdoor relationship. He had retired to a beautiful one-of-a-kind clear cedar cabin he and Delores built on Trout Creek in Trout Lake, WA, where he planted fruit trees and tended a garden. Gordon and Barbara enjoyed the cabin, birding, kayaking, and hiking in the Mt. Adams area.

Gordon passed away on September 19, 2024, lovingly cared for by Barbara and his son, Jon, and Paul Schramm. He received thoughtful and gentle care where he resided at Raleigh Hills Assisted Living as well as with Beloved Hospice. Gordon is survived by his partner, Barbara Schramm and children Paul Schramm, Kathy Hanson, Tom Schramm, and Jon Akeson, and six grandchildren.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests supporting Oregon Food Bank or Friends of Trees, donating time or money in Gordon’s memory.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, November 8, 2024, 2:00 PM, reception to follow, at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 147 NW 19th Ave., Portland, OR 97209