Gordon Ray McHood

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Gordon McHood Obituary

Gordon Ray McHood, passed away July 18, 2019 in Flagstaff, AZ. Gordon was born February 24, 1938, the son of Hubert R. McHood and Ruby Gardner in Winslow, Arizona.

He attended schools in Winslow, Arizona, Graduating in 1956. Earned honors were Student Body President and the salutatorian of the 1956 class. He also was the president of the Honor Society.

He attended the University of Colorado on an ROTC scholarship and served on the battleship USS Missouri before returning to the University of Arizona to finish his college education, earning a BS in business administration. He served 2 ½ years as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Uruguay (South America) where he learned to speak Spanish.

After graduation from the University of Arizona, he and his wife moved to Los Angeles where he worked as an accountant for Texaco and a banker with Security First National Bank, before becoming an auditor for the State of California. He worked as an auditor/accountant for a CPA firm in downtown Los Angeles before accepting a job with Frost & Foote, CPA's in Flagstaff, Arizona. He later became a partner. He and his wife, Carol Waag had six children. When his wife died of cancer, he married Claudia Orvin. They raised his six and her four children. After divorcing, he married, and was sealed in the Mesa, Arizona Temple to the love of his life, Linda Bruchman Parsons. He moved to Winslow where he resided for the remainder of his life. He and Linda served a two-year mission in Boston, Massachusetts. He served in the LDS Snowflake Temple for many years.

During his life, Gordon was a member and served as president of the Optimist Club in Flagstaff, served as a member of the Board of Directors and as the board chairman of the Winslow Memorial Hospital. He served on the Coconino County Planning and Zoning /Commission and later on the Winslow Planning and Zoning Commission as a board member and chairman for several terms. He also served as a board member and Chairman of the Little Colorado Medical Center. He was a volunteer docent and treasurer of the Old Trails Museum in Winslow.

Gordon is survived by his wife, Linda and their children Michael McHood (Sonja), Craig McHood (Leigh Anne), Wendy Tachiquin (Pedro), Julie Barfuss (Randy), Jennifer Peterson (Michael), Alan McHood (Rebecca), Justin McHood, Clinton Hansen (Tammy), Jason Hansen (Melissa), Ryan Hansen, Daniel Parsons (Denise), Cynthia Dowd (Cardy) and Paula Campbell (Pat). He is also survived by his brothers Joel McHood and Jim McHood (Elizabeth). He is preceded in death by his son David Parsons.

During his life he served in various callings within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as bishop, counselor, clerk, scoutmaster, teacher, Sunday school superintendent, young men's president, high councilman, ward mission leader, and librarian.

A visitation will take place Friday, July 26, 2019 at 9:00 am, followed by funeral services at 10:00 am, both at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1501 Kinsley Street, Winslow, Arizona. Interment will follow at Desert View Cemetery. Memories and condolences can be shared with family at www.norvelowensmortuary.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Arizona Daily Sun on Jul. 23, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Gordon McHood

Sponsored by Norvel Owens Mortuary - Flagstaff.

1 Entry

Genia Stephenson

July 17, 2023

My husband Don Chaddock, 2 year old daughter Mhylee Chaddock & I were next door neighbors (on the west side) of Gordon & Carol. In particular, I remember the Spring & Summer of 1978 when Carol was nearing the end of mortality; what Carol was enduring was, especially, upsetting to me because I became separated from my husband & was expecting our 2nd daughter, Marcee. I knew Carol's sister, Sonja Waag Clothier (Eddie) from NAU classes. Although I am LDS & know the Eternal Plan, I had difficulty emotionally internalizing why a wife & the mother of 6 children was being taken from them. Sonja profoundly said, "Latter-day Saints are subject to the physical laws of the Earth just like everyone else" which put the situation in an Eternal perspective. Carol handled her imminent passing with calmness & Grace. Shortly after Carol passed, I asked Gordon if he thought it was more difficult to lose a spouse through death or divorce. He replied, "More difficult through divorce because you have no control over death". One summer afternoon right after a monsoon rain shower, through an open window, I heard 1 of Gordon's young daughters asking her dad if she could wear her Sunday shoes outside & play in the puddles. He told her she could choose to do that but her shoes would get ruined &, then, she wouldn't have any shoes to wear to church. I thought he handled that wisely by explaining what would happen & leaving the decision to her instead of adamantly saying, no you can't.

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