Thomas "Gordon" King, 98, of Bartlesville, OK, died Saturday afternoon, August 24, 2013 at Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville. Gordon was born February 2, 1915 in Wagoner, OK to Thomas M. King and Martha Jane "Mattie" (Greene) King. The King family came to Bartlesville in 1918, arriving in a horse and buggy (Gordon rode with his mother and two siblings) and the rest of the family arrived at the same time in a wagon pulled by a team of horses. Gordon was reared in Bartlesville and was a graduate of Bartlesville College High School. He became an employee of the Phillips Petroleum Company in the Refining Department in 1936, later being promoted to the Research and Development Department in the Licensing Division, Borger, Texas. Gordon and Mary Kathryn Johnson were united in marriage on July 5, 1939 in Oklahoma City, OK. They made their first home in Borger. Three children were born to this union and in 1962, the King family moved to Okmulgee, Oklahoma. In 1964, Gordon's employment with Phillips again involved a move, this time to Bartlesville. Mary Kathryn preceded Gordon in death in 1970. On April 6, 1978, Gordon and Dixie (Lee) Kerr were united in marriage in Bartlesville and made their home there until 1980 when Gordon was retired from Phillips Petroleum Company after 45 years of loyal service. To this union, a daughter was born. Following his retirement, Gordon and Dixie moved to Cedar Vale, KS residing there for ten years. In 1990, the couple moved back to Bartlesville. Dixie preceded Gordon in death in 2006 and he has continued living in retirement in Bartlesville since that time. Gordon was a 50+ year Master Mason in good standing of the Adobe Walls, #1355, Borger, TX and has been a long-time member of East Cross United Methodist Church of Bartlesville. He is also a long-time member of the Dewey, OK Order of Eastern Star. Survivors include a son, Gordon P. (Pat) King of El Reno, OK; three daughters, Karen Kay Fielder of Houston, TX, Diana Edmondson and husband, Bill of Denton, TX and Vickie Lee (King) Cooper and husband, Jason of Bartlesville; step-children, Debra Bea Kerr of Chicago, IL and William Dean Kerr and wife Robbie of Wichita, KS; 7 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Preceding Gordon in death were his parents; two wives; a son-in-law, Randall Fielder; two sisters, Blanche "Speedy" Matthis and Lorena Boyer and brothers, Richard and Glen King.
Visitation Details
Monday, August 26th, 2013 12:00pm - 8:00pm, Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home
Service Details
Tuesday, August 27th, 2013 10:00am, Graveside
Interment Details
Memorial Park Cemetery Bartlesville