JAMES "JIM" GORDON

December 21, 1951 - November 24, 2015

James "Jim" Gordon was born December 21, 1951 in Lodi, California.

He went to be with the Lord on November 24, 2015 after a 6 month battle with lung cancer.

He grew up a large part of his life in Sun Valley, Idaho. His parents were in the skiing business and Jim grew up as an avid skier and tried out for the Olympic team in his teens. His parents moved to Kirkland when he was a teenager and he went to Lake Washington High School where he graduated in 1970.

He met his long life friend, Ron Riecks and was his best man at his and Lynda's wedding October 1971. Jim and Ron started their fascination with sailing by attending free sailing lessons at Bellevue Community College. They borrowed a Hobie Cat from a friend and realized they had to have their own boat. They found a San Juan 21, and swapped up many times and had great memories before selling when Jim moved to Hawaii and Ron to Alaska.

Jim grew up in the skiing business and joined his parents full time working for Beconta from 1971-1980 as a salesman in Washington and Oregon. He sold clothing and hard goods along with his parents. He traveled to Europe several times visiting factories and skiing around Europe. Between the years 1972-1975 the skiing business was slow so he and his friend Ron started a foam and fiberglass business. In 1975 he went back to the skiing business until 1980.

He married Leslie Gray in June of 1980, a flight attendant, and was transferred to Hawaii. He started his 35 year telecom career with Sprint in Hawaii. Jim was an avid outdoors man. He was a great swimmer and got his diving certification while in Hawaii. He also got his pilot's license and later when he returned to California he purchased a plane. In 1985 Jim and Leslie returned to California. Sept 11, 1986 came their first born, Alexander "Alex". Their second born, Ian arrived January 28, 1989.

Jim continued his telecom career in California and was transferred to Colorado where he spent a few years. He then had the opportunity to come home to Seattle with a new upstart company, Eschelon Telecom in 1997.

He then met his future wife, Sharon Hansen, and they both knew they had met their soul mate, their best friend and love of their life. They married after 16 months. Their first adventure was a sailing trip in the Florida Keys during Hurricane Katrina. Soon after they sold Sharon's home and continued the sailboat dream and bought a 48' Caliber sailboat, which was moored in Skyline. Fall of 2006 they moved on board. Christmas of 2007 they gathered up the family and took an outing to Mazatlán for 10 days, leaving unbelievable memories for everyone.

In 2010, Jim left Integra and began his own Telecom consulting business, Freedom Wireless Media, Inc., which he later renamed Gordon Telecom. For the last 5 years he has consulted and installed VOIP phone systems in many businesses from Washington to California.

When Jim started his business in 2010, he wanted more than anything to get to know the people of Skagit County. He had spent the last 7 years traveling from Anacortes to Tukwila to work every day and not able to really know the community he lived in. Jim's love of community and generous spirit was lived out in many ways. One was his involvement with Leadership Skagit - Best Class Ever - Class of 2011! His team "Dreamweaver's" made a lasting impact for the YMCA with the building of the Performance Stage at Lake 16. He continued in his service to Leadership Skagit through a leadership role for the Class of 2012, along with continued support of events and gatherings.

Jim was quite active with the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, which began when he and Sharon lived in Anacortes. Jim was the board member-at-large on the executive committee. He was also the lead liaison to breweries and wineries for the Anacortes Beer and Wine Festivals for several years. He was also the incoming president of Skagit Business Alliance and Stephanie Hamilton, Chamber CEO's, personal sounding board for legislative issues. As of November 1, he would have been incoming Anacortes Chamber President. Jim was also a member of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce and volunteered for many of their functions also.

Jim joined SICBA (Skagit/Island Counties Builders Association) in 2013. Jim was the Membership Chair for 2 years. In May 2015 at the yearly Awards Dinner, Jim was awarded the 2014 Rookie of the Year and the 2014 Associate of the Year. Jim was a great believer in referring or using the members of the SICBA organization. In fact, Jim's dream was to build his and Sharon's retirement home himself.

He began 2015 working closely with the architect and then beginning the ground work and foundation. He and Joel Olson, the framer began framing the home in April and by mid-May the cough Jim had was worsening and put him to bed. It progressed and he was diagnosed on June 12 with stage 4 lung cancer. He was never able to return to the build, but the organization he loved, SICBA, had many members that stepped up and volunteered their time, resources, materials and labor.

He and Sharon will be forever grateful to all the community that gave of their valuable time to help to move along the progress so Jim could get into his home sooner. Unfortunately, his lungs would not provide the air to continue and to see his dream become a reality.

Jim loved his blended family, which he never thought of that way. His five boys were THEIR 5 boys and same with their 6 grandchildren. One of his final remarks was he wasn't done being a Dad and a Papa. Jim had a wonderful spirit and kind heart, he touched many people. He had a wonderful sense of humor right to the end.

Jim is survived by his soul mate, Sharon Hansen Gordon, his sons, Alex Gordon, Atlanta, GA, Ian Gordon, Seattle, C.J. Markey and wife Kelim, Lynnwood, Ron Carpenter and wife Shawna, Mount Vernon, and Guy Carpenter, Lynnwood. Also survived by Grandsons, Quinn, Owen and Ryan Carpenter, granddaughters, Zoey, Audrey and Stella Markey.

He was preceded in death by his father Alex Gordon and his mother Agnes "Peggy" Gordon.

The Family extends a special thank you to Dr. Chen, oncologist, Group Health Clinic, Bellevue and Katie his infusion nurse for all her care. They would also like to thank all of the wonderful nurses who took excellent care of Jim the last week of his life in Tower A and D of Providence, Everett, as well as Group Health Dr. Luu, who was always honest with them.

In memory of Jim, memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.