Mrs. Melva Jean Gordon

MELVA JEAN GORDON Jean Gordon, 86, a Daytona Beach resident for over 40 years, died on October 17, 2012 at Hudson Manor Assisted Living, Tampa, Florida. Jean was Personnel Manager at Woolco in South Daytona during the 1970's. Later, pursuing a long-held interest in nursing, she became a C.N.A. and, until her retirement in 2003, cared for elderly patients through her employment with the Wallis Agency. Melva Jean Reed, the only child of Helen and Clarence Reed, was born January 11, 1926 in New Brighton, PA. After graduating from Beaver Falls Area High School, she worked for Bell Telephone, and remembered the switchboard lighting up as news spread about the end of WWII. In 1946, she married William T. Gordon, Jr. Her family relocated from St. Clairsville, OH to Daytona Beach, a favorite vacation destination, in 1967; she moved to Tampa two years ago. Jean loved her cats, Heathcliff especially, reading, and foreign travel. As an infant, her maternal grandmother arrived in America on a ship which sailed from Liverpool, and Jean always felt a connection to England. She was predeceased by her husband in 2001, and a granddaughter, Marie Gordon , age 25 (Tampa), in June 2012. Survivors include her three sons, William T. Gordon III (Sharon), McLean, VA; Robert M. Gordon (Sandy), Holly Hill; and Jeffrey S. Gordon (Regine), Tampa; and a daughter, Deborah J. Beneigh (Ted), Ormond Beach. In addition, she leaves eight grandchildren, William, Scott, Kasey, Heather, Allison, Mitchell and David Gordon, and April Huckstadt (Shane), and a great grandson, Jackson Huckstadt. Remembrances may be made to the Halifax Humane Society, 2364 LPGA Blvd., Daytona Beach, 32124 or Meals on Wheels, Council on Aging of Volusia County, 160 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach, 32114. The family will hold a private memorial service. She will be interred with her husband at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.