Dr. Donald Howard Gordon went to meet his Lord and Savior at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. He was surrounded by his loving wife, daughter and family. Don was preceded in death by his mother Janelle Gordon, father Halton Howard Gordon, father-in-law Jack David Miller and granddaughter Marlowe Gordon.

Don is survived by his wife of 42 years Carol Ann (Miller) Gordon of Willard, MO. His daughter and son-in-law Stephaine and Jonathan Smith of Germantown, TN. His son and daughter-in-law Andrew and Bethany Gordon of Yolo, Ca.

His sister Linda Williams, sister and brother-in-law Peggy and Tim Woody, sister and brother-in-law Nena and Bud Cox and brother and sister-in-law Robert and Jacque Gordon.

His mother-in-law Mary Christine Miller, sister-in-law Vivian Goeppinger, sister and brother-in-law Shelia and Dennis Ragsdale, brother and sister-in-law David and Karla Miller and brother and sister-in-law Stephen and Bethany Miller.

Along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and patients.

Donald was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas on November 16, 1954. He was raised on the Gordon family farm in Greenwood, Arkansas, proud home of the Bulldogs. Don was a standout multi-sport athlete, class president, sang in the choir and was an officer of many extracurricular clubs.

Don went on to play football at the State College of Arkansas at Conway until he sustained a knee injury. Don left Conway and went to Oklahoma Christian College in Oklahoma City, OK where he majored in Chemistry and Biology. While at Oklahoma Christian he fell in love with some homemade chocolate chip cookies that Vivian Miller brought back from break. Don just had to meet the person who baked those phenomenal cookies.

Don met Carol Ann Miller in 1974 at Oklahoma Christian after calling her dorm room three times and having to go to the library to finally meet her. They married a year later, in 1975, after Carol made him wait for a week to respond to his proposal.

Upon graduation, Don took a job with the State of Oklahoma in their division that tested water quality. Don moved on to get a job with Midwest City High School to teach Chemistry and coach football. While teaching and coaching, Carol had foot surgery, and Don came to the realization he could have done a better job. At that point, it was off to California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco, CA for Don and Carol.

Carol worked at Crown Zellerbach Corporation, a pulp and paper company, to put Don through podiatry school. Upon graduation, Don opened a private podiatry practice in Pacifica, CA in 1985. In 1987, Don was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Don closed his practice and joined the Faculty of California College of Pediatric Medicine where he served as an Associate Professor until 1998 when he retired from medicine and moved to Willard, Mo.

When Don moved to Willard, he served on his wife’s family farm, Stewart Miller Farms, as often as he could and volunteered by tutoring middle schoolers in the special education program. One could always find him making adjustments to overcome the challenges MS put in front of him. Frequently, Don dug postholes by hand while sitting in the sliding door opening of his van. Don was active in the Lord’s church his entire life. He served in many capacities for multiple congregations across Arkansas, Oklahoma, California and Missouri. Don served as an elder and frequently on financial advisory committees. Don was known for always having a one liner, being full of quick wit and for loving people. Even though he was retired in 1998 he always wanted to serve others by using his knowledge of teaching and podiatry to show God’s love by helping anyone and everyone improve their ailments. He will be missed by many.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 27, 2018, at the Brookline Church of Christ, 3086 North Brookline Avenue, Brookline, MO. 65619, under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home East. Visitation will be Thursday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the church. In Lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

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