Mary Louise Gordon

Mary Louise Sharkey Gordon passed away on May 31, 2015. She was born in Hammond, Indiana on April 20, 1931 to Frances and Lillian Sharkey. She was the fourth child in a family of six children. Marylou, as she was known to her family and friends, attended school in Hammond Indiana where she graduated from High School. She went on to receive her nurses training, and earned the degree of Registered Nurse. After completing her RN, Marylou moved west to San Francisco, California where she worked for the Union Pacific Hospital and the Veterans’ Hospital. She then moved to southern California. Here Marylou continued her career in nursing with her last position being that of a charge nurse at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California. While working at Hoag Hospital and living in Huntington Beach, CA, Marylou meet her future husband, Wells Gordon.  Wells convinced her to marry him and move to a home he had in Beaver, Utah. While living here, Marylou became quite the “country girl.” She and Wells enjoyed hunting and fishing. They planted a large garden which Marylou would bottle, freeze and dry. She loved to bake and was famous for her Christmas cookies and Fruitcake.  She was an excellent cook, loved to garden and hand crafted and painted gifts for those she loved. She and Wells enjoyed traveling with their fifth wheel trailer in the winter months. They traveled to many places in the western United States. They had many great adventures together. As Wells grew older, Marylou’s nursing skills came back into play as she cared for her husband with loving, tender care until the time of his death. After the passing of her husband, Marylou moved to St. George, Utah. While living in St. George, she made many friends. All who met her soon learned to love her. Marylou was a member of the St. George Garden Club and continued to care for her beautiful yard until her passing. Marylou loved animals but dogs were her passion. She raised and sold poodles while living in California, had Golden Labs with Chong and Chong Two in Beaver. As she got older, Marylou developed many health problems but never let it stop her. She was determined not to let physical conditions get the best of her. She enrolled in exercise and balance classes, carefully monitored her diet and kept up to date on current health issues. Marylou was such an example to those around her that she was asked to participate in a television clip shown on the news demonstrating how beneficial continued exercise was as one aged and developed various health concerns. Marylou was an amazing lady. She shared her love with so many though out her life in quiet, unassuming ways. She truly went about quietly doing good. To those whose life she touched, she will be greatly missed. She was the kind of a person who touched lives and left them blessed for having known her. "Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean we'll miss you, until we meet again!"