Gunn Obituaries - My (New) Homepage

763-295-2918 - Published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune on 11/6/2003.
Gordon MacKay Gunn, Jr
a proud Scot and a Leader of Men, passed away on November 1, 2005. Gordon"s lifelong
motto was "If you want it done, see Gunn!" This deeply spiritual achiever was born to
Gordon MacKay Gunn and Ella Fern Severe Gunn on June 25, 1913 in El Paso, Texas.
Gordon was an extremely energetic and motivated achiever from a very young age. He
active in Boy Scouts of America, earning his Eagle Scout badge. Besides his academic and
Scouting excellence, Gordon had a large El Paso Times newspaper paper route, which he
threw from his bicycle. Working part time while attending Austin High School, he served
as President of his senior class, an officer in the National Honor Society, manager of the
football team and athletic letterman, an officer in ROTC, and was voted Most Popular Boy.
Graduating in 1932 from Austin High, Gordon attended El Paso College of Mines (now
UTEP) and was a Cheerleader in 1934 and "35. Gordon went to work for Standard Oil
Company after college. In 1937, he married Barbara Ann (Babs) Carson, an El Paso
Debutante and daughter of Edgar E. Carson and Edith Roberts Carson. Gordon and Babs
and had two children, Gordon M. Gunn III, born in 1939, and Karen Elizabeth Gunn,
born in 1941. Gordon enlisted in the U.S. Army in early 1942 as a Private, was quickly
accepted to Officers Candidate School where he also excelled. As an Ordnance officer in
the Pacific Theater of WWII, Gordon advanced rapidly to the rank of Captain and
Company Commander. After the war, the Gunns" moved to Albuquerque in 1946 with
Standard Oil Company, where Gordon served as Standard"s first New Mexico District
Manager. In 1947, Gordon purchased a Chevron Service Station at 921 E. Central, which
he ran until 1949, when he decided to try insurance as a career. In 1951, he became a
distributor for DuBois Chemical Company, and then later for Turco Products, Inc. in
industrial and institutional cleaning compounds and chemicals. Gordon remained with
Turco until his retirement in 1979. His positions with Turco took them from Albuquerque
to San Diego in 1963, to San Pedro in 1965, and San Francisco in 1968. Upon Gordon of
Christ Methodist Church in Albuquerque. They were extremely active in churches
wherever they lived. They joined Shepherd of the Valley Presbyterian Church in 1979, and
were very instrumental in its growth. Gordon and Babs were admired and respected for
the many acts of caring and giving they bestowed on so many for so long. In 1980, Gordon
was appointed by the NM State Engineer to form and lead an ad-hoc committee for the
reform of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, where he was successful in
removing institutional properties,including churches, from their taxation. MRGCD was
realigned to cause their services and assessments to be fair and justifiable to all residents,
businesses and institutions within their venue. This effort took Gordon more than 12 years
to accomplish. His son Gordon III and wife Jeannie of Albuquerque, and his daughter
Karen Thompson of Sedona, Arizona, survive Gordon.Ten grandchildren and ten great
grandchildren, all of whom Gordon adored, also survive him. Memorial services will be
held at Shepherd of the Valley Presbyterian Church, 1801 Montano NW on Saturday,
November 19, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. David McConnaughy, a close and long-time friend, and
founding Pastor of Shepherd of the Valley, along with Tom Hart, Pastor of SOTV, will
conduct Gordon"s services. David Poling, former interim Pastor of SOTV will present
Gordon"s eulogy. There will be a reception at the church following the service. In lieu of