My nephew, Gordon Scott Frazier (D.O.B. 3/6/63), died on Thursday, September 14, 2017. He was clearing trees and brush in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and collapsed from an apparent heart attack.
Gordon had lived the last 12 years in Florida and had gathered a nice social network around him. A former boss of his has been especially kind to my family during this sad time. He and Gordon, both avid readers, shared books together. Both sides of Gordon's family have many "book worms." Therefore, the fact that he enjoyed reading is no surprise.
Gordon's interests were wide and varied: comics, history, art, and music. Gordon chanted in accordance with Buddhist practices for many years. My niece describes him as a free spirit. I remember him for his natural generosity towards people. While he enjoyed card and board games, he was more likely to assist an opponent rather than play to win.
My sister, Melinda, Gordon's mother, lived in Fairhaven Bay, New York for a number of years. To celebrate her birthday one year, Gordon gave her a pair of swans. Like my sister said…it was a "wonderfully imaginative" gift. The swans didn't "reside" in front of her bayside home, but could often be seen in drives around the bay.
At my sister's graduation from the University of Oregon, my mom was holding three-year-old Gordon. My own grandmother looked at her daughter and said, "Honey, let me hold him for a bit." Gordon looked at my mom and addressed her as "Grandma Honey." The name stuck. When my son was born I asked Mom what she wanted us to call her. “Grandma Honey, of course” was her reply.
A number of mental and physical maladies affected Gordon during most of his adult life. Attempts to assist Gordon by family members were mostly met with "thanks, but no thanks." There were many hours of heartache over the years. Despite these conditions, he managed to work very regularly and to hold jobs for long periods of time. Melinda usually got to see him at least twice a year. She shared that in her visit this last spring, she found him quite conversant and seemingly content.
Gordon's father, William Allen Frazier Jr. died in 1994. All of his grandparents are deceased. He is survived by his mother, Melinda Doud, her husband, Phil Galipeau, Gordon sister, Lorna Maier, her husband, Randy, and their son, William. He had a step-brother and a step-sister. He also leaves two aunts: Jean Geist, and Sara Baird and Sara's husband, Jim, and their two adult children: Evan and Megan.
RIP dear Gordon.