John Purdue Gordon

John Purdue Gordon, 78, passed away February 11, 2024 in Memphis Tennessee after a short illness.

John was the son of the late Purdue Gordon and Florence Slates Gordon. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary Moon Gordon, and daughters Kathryn A. Walker (Charles, Jr.) and Karen L. McAdams (Richard), a sister, Barbara M. Wirt (Michael) and grandchildren Kendall N Walker, Hannah E McAdams, Caitlyn D. Walker, Austin D Walker (Lundon), Jacob A. McAdams, and 3 great-grandchildren, all of whom he loved dearly.

John joined the US Navy in November 1963 and served in nuclear submarines for 22 years before retirement as a Master Chief Electronics Technician ETCM (SS). John loved the Navy, and agreed with the slogan that the Navy is not just a job, it's an adventure. Following retirement from active duty, John worked as a Naval Corrections Financial Analyst for the US Navy in Millington TN until 2015. John was active in his church, Grace Presbyterian, Bartlett TN, serving as an elder and as a deacon in Raleigh Presbyterian Church in earlier years. He lived his faith. He loved music and sang in the church choir, and he rang hand bells. He had a special love for Southern Gospel hymns. His other music love was barbershop harmony, and he sang bass with a Pensacola chorus and then the Memphis Men of Harmony for nearly 30 years. John also sang with the Bartlett Area Chorus for the past two seasons. He sang along with the radio in the car, especially with Willie Nelson. He loved sports, especially golf and Notre Dame football. John always had a smile and a kind word for anyone he came in contact with – cashiers, waiters, co-workers, people at a nearby table in restaurants, and customer service employees on the telephone.

He loved life and was loved in return. He will be deeply missed by his family and by many others.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Grace Presbyterian Church, Bartlett TN, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis TN.

The family invites friends to gather for a visitation on Saturday, February 17, 2023, at 10:00 am with a memorial service following at 11:00am at Grace Presbyterian Church 6671 Yale Road Bartlett, Tn.