Vera J. Gordon

Vera J. Gordon, our beautiful mom passed away at Grandvue Medical Care Facility in East Jordan, MI on Sunday, March 19, 2023.  She was born in Detroit, MI to Clarence (Sid) and Lovena (DeForest) Patton on September 17, 1929.

   Mom moved to Central Lake as a young child and was a lifelong resident.  She attended Central Lake Public School and graduated in 1948.  While working at Helen’s Café (now Fudgee’s) she met a handsome young man that had moved to Central Lake to start his automotive repair business, Gaylend (Gay) R. Gordon.  They married in September 1948 and spent 56 years together.  He passed away just shy of their 57^th wedding anniversary.

   In reflection of mom’s life, we realized there really wasn’t much she couldn’t do when she put her mind to it.  She was a gardener (vegetables and flowers), she could paint pictures and the interior of the house, she could cook and bake like nobody’s business!  She was known for her beautiful and delicious cookies.  If you were lucky, maybe you experienced a meal of her homemade bean soup and fried bread or received a plate of cookies for Christmas.  Mom did the bookkeeping for dad’s business, worked at Bachmann’s Store for many years and later on, Second Chance Body Armor.

   Mom was the second oldest of 10 children.  She always told us they helped in the garden and in the house and all had a “little one” to keep track of.

   She is survived by her son Chuck, daughter-in-law Joyce, granddaughters Jill (Jamie) Carlington, Dorrie (Nick) Wisniske, great grandson Lucas Carlington, daughter Connie and son-in-law Tom Kiessel and remaining sister Wanda (Lawrence) Wolgamott.  She leaves behind many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.  She is also survived by special friend and companion Ted Kolsky.  Ted helped her fulfill a lifelong dream of living at the lake.  Thank you Ted.

   She was preceded in death by her husband Gay, parents, brothers Dick, Dave, and Jack Patton, sisters Mable Watkins, Mary Narro Lort, Waneta Wilks, Shirley Wolgamott Warner and Agnes Asquith.

   We’ll miss you more than you can ever imagine, mom.  BEST MOM EVER!!

   Funeral services will be held Monday, March 27^th at 11 a.m. at the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  The family will receive friends Sunday, March 26^th from 2 to 4 p.m. also at the funeral home.   Memorial contributions can be given to Hospice of Northwest Michigan, The Good Samaritan, or Antrim County Commission on Aging.

   Please sign her online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.