Gordon Franklin Gurney Jr.

He was born in Billerica Massachusetts on Nov. 15, 1931. He graduated from Howe High in 1951. He loved playing football. He served in the Army during the Korean War through 1954. After the army he attended Barrington Bible College in Barrington Rhode Island where he met Jean McVicker, fell in love, and married her. They both enjoyed singing in the choir and going on concert tours with the school. Boy could he sing! He went to Dallas Theological Seminary and got his Masters degree. Together they raised their family of four as missionaries in Alaska where he was a professor of Bible at Alaska Bible College and was a big part of raising up leaders to plant churches in the surrounding areas of the interior of Alaska.

After 31 years together, Jean passed away from cancer and Gordon retired from SEND International after serving for over three decades. He relocated to Portland OR and started dating Donna Rodman, the daughter of one of Jean’s best friends in Alaska. Gordon and Donna fell in love and were married in 1999 and have been married ever since.

Dad had a love of the Word of God, singing, family, food, a good cup of coffee . . . maybe even a bad cup of coffee at the Caribou Cafe. . . but mostly Jesus, his Lord and Saviour. The best was when he could combine all those affections, perhaps singing at the dinner table with friends and family, perhaps at the Native Bible Conference potluck, or the dining room at Parkview Retirement or Marquis Centennial memory care. In his last days, weeks, and months he was still singing, usually about going home to be with Jesus. AND he was happy until the very last day, content with his new ministry of making someone smile each day . . . and he did!!!

He is preceded in death by his 1st wife of 31 years, Jean, his parents Gordon and Mary, his sister Ruth, father in law and mother in law Hugh and Jean McVicker, and brother in law Joe.

He is survived by his wife Donna, his brother Ralph, sister in law Roberta, sister in law Peg Virgin, his son and daughter in law Steve and Kyong Cha, son and daughter in law Jim and Chris with a whole slew of nephews, nieces, grandkids, and great grandkids.