Regiment: Calgary Highlanders
Gerald Melvin Gordon, born in Vermillion AB on October 3, 1925, was the third of five children of Jim and Clara (King) Gordon. Jim from Ireland, and Clara from Quebec met and married in 1917 in Clandonald AB. The five children, Iola, Harvey, Gerald, Benny, and Donald all grew up there. In July 1938, the family moved north to the Peace Country, staying in Joussard for the winter, until Jim filed on a homestead in New Fish Creek near Valleyview in spring 1939. At first, the family lived in a tent, until a log house was built. Since there was no school yet in the area, older sister Iola taught the younger boys. When the new school in New Fish Creek was built, Miss Herdsman was the first teacher. The children’s mother Clara had died in 1940, and Iola took care of her father and the boys. Gerald joined the Calgary Highlanders in 1944, being stationed in England, Belgium, and he was in Germany when WW II ended. In July 1945, Gerald volunteered to go to the Bahamas, then spent time at Camp Shilo, MB, and at Camp Wainwright in AB. The following year on May 8, 1946, he returned home to New Fish Creek. Gerald married Barbara Vance, daughter of Florence and Harry Vance, on May 7, 1947 in High Prairie. For the first 3 years of their marriage, they lived in High Prairie, then moved to their homestead on S 29-72-21-W5. Gerald drove “Cat” on several construction sites in the area. In 1950, he fashioned a type of binder from a swather, and he was the first in the area to own a combine. When their oldest child started school in 1954, the family bought and moved to his brother-in-law’s land: NW 25-72-22-W5 which was much closer to a school. Gerald worked on the New Fish Creek road in 1955. A new house was built on their new land in 1961, with electricity. A deep well was drilled to give running water in 1967. Over the years, Barbara and Gerald won ribbons at the Agriculture Fair in Valleyview. They always had a mixed farm with grain and many types of livestock, although mainly cattle. The Gordons had 6 sons: Robert (Bob), Brian, Tom, Bruce, Dan, and Kelly. After Barbara passed away in 1981, Gerald remarried to Judy. In 2007 he moved into Red Willow Lodge. Gerald passed away at age 82 in Valleyview AB on March 21, 2008.
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew (Valleyview) pp. 428 – 431; Photos pp. 428, 429, 430, and 431. AGS-Obituary
Surname File – “Gordon”- Obituary in Valley Views April 23, 2008