Gordon Richard Peterson

Gordon Richard Peterson, born October 14, 1930 in Potlach, Idaho, passed away May 19, 2015 at home in Portland. He was 84 years old, loved dearly and known to family and friends as ‘Gordy’ and ‘Gordo’.

Gordon grew up in Idaho, and graduated from Deary High School in 1948. He worked driving logging trucks during his high school years. He then completed a two-year tour of duty in the US Army before marrying his bride Margaret Ann Pearson of Troy, Idaho. The newlyweds then moved to Portland to start a life and family together, and were active at Resurrection Lutheran Church for many years.

Gordon earned a degree in Scientific Motor Tune Up from the Utilities Engineering Institute in Chicago, Illinois in 1959. Beginning with his first position with Scoop Mobile in Portland, he thereafter enjoyed a successful career in Purchasing and Sales. In 1995 he celebrated his retirement but never really did stop working. He was shipping orders all across the country of his “no-mount Corvette antenna” until recently. If Gordon wasn’t tinkering with new designs and ideas, he was talking to friends or making new ones.

Gordon and Margaret joined the Rose City Corvette Club in 1978, and together enjoyed over 35 years of friendships, shows, tours, and events. They took joy in being a part of the club as well as buying and selling cars.

Gordon and Margaret loved being on the go and took many road trips together. They traveled to each of the 50 states, explored the Mediterranean with friends and visited their families’ birthplaces in Norway and Sweden. A favorite memory for Gordon was his 10-day (boys only) golf adventure in Scotland with his son.

Gordon and Margaret celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in with a trip to Hawaii with their children and six grandchildren. In October of 2014, they spent their 60th anniversary surrounded by family in Seaside, OR.

Gordon loved life! He was devoted to and loved his family and his little dogs, Abbey and Julie. Corvettes, golfing, walking, dancing, socializing with friends and being outside in the sun were a few of his passions. He valued friendships, honesty, and integrity and if you were lucky enough to call Gordo your friend, you knew that. You also knew that if he was around, fun, silliness and good times were had by all.

Gordon was preceded in death by his parents Edwin Richard Peterson and Myrtle Elnora Lathrop. He is survived by his loving wife Margaret Ann Pearson, his three children, Rick (Katie) Peterson, David (Lisa) Peterson, Karen (Gino) Calcagno, and his six grandchildren, Gordon and Hayley Peterson, Kyle and Amanda Peterson, and Alex and Erica Carman.

A Lutheran Memorial to honor Gordon’s life is being held on Saturday, May 30th at two o’clock in the afternoon at The Little Chapel of the Chimes, located at 1515 NE 106th Avenue, Portland, OR 97220 (503-256-0606).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in remembrance of Gordon R. Peterson to Shriners Hospital of Portland, OR at 3101 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97201.