Gordon Lamar Valdez Obituary (1939 - 2023)

Gordon Lamar Valdez died on Sunday, December 10, 2023, in Ogden, Utah at the home of his niece, Erin, who lovingly cared for Gordon the last few years of his life. Gordon was born on July 20, 1939, in Salt Lake City to Maurita Margaret Ringle Miles and Lamar Gordon Miles. Gordon had an older brother, Bobby, and a sister, JoAnn. Gordon's mother Maurita later married J. Derden who was serving in the US Army. Gordon was adopted by J. Derden and the family moved to Jayton, Texas, Columbia, South Carolina and in 1951 to Osaka, Japan. Gordon's brother Bobby died while the family lived in Japan. JoAnn and Gordon enjoyed their educational and cultural experiences while living in Japan. JoAnn became Gordon's best friend, travel companion, and protector. JoAnn and Gordon attended school together in Texas and the St. Joseph Catholic School in South Carolina. JoAnn and Gordon created a loving bond of trust and friendship that led them into adulthood as they kept in regular contact wherever their lives took them. JoAnn married Robert Ray Ward and raised her family in Ogden. Gordon's life would take him back to the Pacific and Northern Idaho. After their military experience, Maurita and her children returned to Utah. Maurita married Louis Valdez who adopted Gordon. Gordon loved and learned much from both of his stepfathers and he was proud to have carried their names. Gordon graduated from Ogden High School in 1958 and attended Weber State College while he worked for American Food Stores stacking groceries. He also worked as a survey technician for the US government until he enlisted in the Navy in 1961. Having enjoyed his Army travels with his family and, after hearing the stories and escapades of the military men he had met, Gordon joined the Navy and was assigned to serve on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet as an air traffic control assistant. Gordon honorably served four years in the Navy and enjoyed his service and many ports of call throughout the Pacific. Following his Navy service in 1965, Gordon joined the Navy Reserve, and he was hired by the US Forrest Service as a surveying technician. Gordon was promoted to manage a crew of surveyors that worked throughout the Northwestern United States until his retirement in 1992, but Gordon called Lake Fort and Yellow Pine, Idaho his home through those years. There he met Donna Marie Earl who he married on October 21, 1966. They were blessed with one child, a daughter they named Mary Maurita. Gordon and Donna became entrepreneurs while living in Yellow Pine. They developed a campground, bar, and service station. Gordon joined the American Postal Workers Union to deliver the US mail for the region. Gordon also developed a gravel pit to serve local contractors and the Idaho Department of Transportation. Gordon spent many years caring for his daughter, Mary, and her son, Eizaak. Gordon built Mary a home and cared for her daily needs. He supported Eizaak through his college career and was very proud of his grandson's academic accomplishments. Gordon and Donna divorced, and Gordon spent the last several years of his life visiting friends and traveling between Cascade, Idaho and Wickenburg, Arizona where he enjoyed spending time with his good friend Mark Yost and his grandniece, Megan Dooley, her husband, Robert and their children. Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Bobby and JoAnn, his brother-in-law, Ray Ward, and his daughter, Mary. Gordon is survived by his grandson, Eizaak, many nieces and nephews who remember and love their "Uncle Gordon" and Gordon's last faithful traveling companion in this world, his loyal dog, Butch. There has never been a dog who loved his master more than Butch loved Gordon.