Bremerton, WA - Vern E. Gordon, 57, died March 6, 1997 at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA. Arrangements were with Lewis Funeral Chapel.
Funeral services were held March 11 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church with burial in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Vern was born on October 18, 1939 in Oklee, the son of Edwin and Alvina Gordon. The family moved to Bremerton, WA in 1944. He was confirmed at Our Saviour's Lutheran church and graduated in 1957 from West High school. He attended Olympic College and the University of Washington. He worked for Safeway stores until becoming an organizer in 1973 for the Retail Clerks Union, which later became the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. He rose throughout the ranks to become president and chief executive officer of Local 381.
His hobbies included playing guitar and leading sing-alongs. He enjoyed golf, skiing, travel, exploring his Norweigen heritage and liberal politics. He completed marathons in Portland, OR and Honolulu in September 1996, he had dinner in Seattle, WA with President Clinton.
He is survived by daughters Sherrie of Seattle, WA and Laura (Ron Prichard) of Peekskill, NY; mother Alvina; stepfather Norman Bakke of Bremerton, WA; sisters LaVonne (Lawrence) Greaves of Silverdale, WA and Darlene (Bill) Yocum of Honolulu; sister-in-law Tami Gordon; stepsister Ginny (David) Martin; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father in 1981; and brother Gary in 1989.