Arlie F. Gordon

Arlie F. Gordon, 76, of Union, died March 17 at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise.

A graveside service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the Union Cemetery with a celebration of life potluck to follow at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show clubhouse. Services are casual dress.

Arlie was born Aug. 9, 1931, to Ralph and Lillian Gordon in Eureka, Calif. The only boy of four children, he was raised on the family ranch in Showers Pass, Calif. Arlie worked all around that area for many years. He married Dorene McPherson and raised two children, Candy and Abe.

In 1969 the family moved to Summerville, Calif., where he worked for Sierra Pacific as a truck driver for 16 years. He and Dorene divorced in 1981.

He married his wife, the love of his life, Karen, on Oct. 22, 1982, in Reno. They were together for 25 years. He became dad to her four children: Jackie, Stormie, Marty and Debbie. In 1992 they moved to the Grande Ronde Valley where Arlie became involved in many things. He worked for the Union Cemetery District for the last 11 ½ years. He was on the Planning Commission for seven years before serving eight years on the Union City Council where he was the liaison for the Planning Commission. He was voted Man of the Year in 2005.

Those who knew him say Arlie had a passion for doing his part to improve and help the community grow. They say that people may have not always agreed with Arlie, but they always knew his view and where he stood on things.

Arlie enjoyed hunting, fishing, mushrooming and huckleberry picking. He loved his work at the cemetery and took great pride in his work. He enjoyed helping with the stock show every year and riding his horse when time allowed. He loved spending time with his family and watching his grandchildren in their activities.

In 2007 Arlie and Karen started running the concession stand for Union High School and loved putting time into making it run smoothly.

Arlie is survived by his wife, Karen; daughter, Candy and her husband, Al, Fizer of Janesville, Calif.; stepchildren, Jackie and her husband, David Chase of Herlong, Calif., Stormie and her husband, Scott Watkins of Ballinger, Texas, marty and his wife, Melody Weston of Huntington, and Debbie and her husband, John Savely of Union; 19 grandchildren, four of which are serving in the armed forces; 23 great-grandchildren with three more due to be born this years; three sisters; numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Lillian Gordon of California; son and daughter-in-law, Abe and Liz Gordon of Cove; and infant granddaughter, Rochelle of California.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Union Cemetery at 770 E. Fulton St., Union 97883. A drinking fountain will be erected in memory of Arlie at the Cemetery.