Richard Gordon

Richard “Ricky” Lee Gordon, 67, of Arcadia, Louisiana, passed away on March 3, 2024 at home after enduring recurrent illness.

Ricky was born on January 12, 1957 in Ruston, Louisiana, to Willie and Doris Gordon.  He graduated Valedictorian from Weston High School in 1975 and went on to study at Louisiana Tech University earning a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history.  During the entirety of his tenure in school (1st grade thru his completion of his Master’s), he made no grade other than “A”.   

After graduating from college, he began working at Stone Container in Hodge, kickstarting a long career that led him to Arcadia where he was Customer Service Manager at Mondi Consumer Packaging before his medical retirement in 2014.  

In early 1991 Ricky met Dorothy Hughes and fell madly in love.  They were married on February 29, 1992, at Jonesboro Assembly of God.  The happy couple honeymooned in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, which became one of their favorite places to visit.  In the years that followed, they would make the trip back there to spend time together in the natural beauty of the Ozarks.  They had many other adventures and travels together during their marriage, including a short time living in Washington state.   Ricky fell in love with the scenery, the weather, and the culture there.  His wish is that a portion of his cremains be spread in Washington in his memory.   

Ricky was a passionate sports fan and claimed the Cowboys and Lakers as his own. He also held incredibly strong political views, which he was always happy to share.  He vehemently debated and defended his beliefs and encouraged/challenged his family, friends, coworkers, and Facebook friends to do the same.  His passionate discourse on topics large and small could occasionally get heated but even in disagreement, he would accept and respect a person with an opposing position with love and understanding.  

He was also a lifelong learner and reader with a brilliance that is hard to quantify. He possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of history, music, religion, literature, culture, science fiction, comics, and anything else that he became even mildly interested in.  For those in his orbit, he was an intellectual titan who could be relied on for educated opinions, wisdom, humor, advice and sarcasm.

He will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.  

Ricky was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, and his father, Willie.

He is survived by his mother, Doris Gordon; his children, Matt Gordon and his wife Amanda; Melani Craig and her husband Trey; Susan Fuhrman and her husband Josh; Erin Kathleen Crawford and her husband Michael; Sean Dulaney and his wife Sereta; his sisters, Debbie Hurt and her husband Edward; Shawna Straub and her husband David; and his brother, Mark Gordon.  
 
 Ricky is also survived by his fourteen grandchildren: Jon, Kris, Megan, Lilli, Graycen, Hope, Caroline, Sebastian, Wyatt, David, Jaxon, Polly, Addi, and Edison; and his two great-grandchildren, Kinsley and Noah.

Services will be held at Rose-Neath Funeral Home (1680 1st St., Arcadia, LA, 71001) on Monday, March 11, 2024.  Visitation will begin at 10 AM with a memorial service to follow at 11 AM.