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January 1, 1947 – September 22, 2018
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Obituary for Barbara E. "Betsy" Gordon PhD
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Dr. Barbara E. "Betsy" Gordon, age 71, of Lebanon, passed away at 10:50 a.m. Saturday, September 22, 2018 at her residence. She was born January 1, 1947 in Linden, AL, the daughter of the late Leon David and Martha M. (Thaxton) Gordon.
Dr. Gordon is survived by her siblings: Emily Tyler Burge (Earl) of Linden, AL, David J. Tyler of Pensecola, FL, Martha Tyler Lawley (Jim) of Grand Island, FL and Joanne Gordon Beard (Bill) Of Pisgah, AL; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, colleagues and friends.
Dr. Betsy Gordon joined the faculty in 1990 and was promoted to full professor in 2008. Her devotion was recognized in McKendree’s faculty awards trifecta: the United Methodist Church Exemplary Teacher (1995), Emerson Excellence in Teaching (2004), and Grandy Faculty Award (2013). She chaired the Division of Language, Literature, and Communication from 2001-2009 and helped bring about the theatre and Spanish majors. She directed first-year advising and served on or chaired many committees. For two years she lived among students at the McKendree West apartments, where she introduced a book club, a film series, and an annual Christmas Cookie Day for students. In 1999, she represented McKendree during Technos International Week in Japan and she was a member of Phi Kappa Phi.
Betsy loved to travel and she had a special affinity for the College Baseball World Series. She studied communication and became a stalwart on our teaching faculty. She loved the arts and was an ardent supporter of the Hett. Although she never had children of her own, she always thought of all of her students as her children.
Dr. Gordon retired as a full professor of speech communication on December 31, 2017. In her letter of resignation, prior to her retirement Betsy wrote, “I frequently tell my students that if I could give them one gift, it would be the gift of loving what they do as much as I love teaching. Teaching at McKendree for the past twenty-seven years has been such a privilege and a joy.” Betsy was an amazing presence on this campus and friend to all who knew her. She will be deeply missed.
A memorial service in her memory will be held at 12 p.m. Wednesday, September 26, 2018 in the Bothwell Chapel of McKendree University, with Rev. Tim Harrison ofciciating.
Dr. Gordon is survived by her siblings: Emily Tyler Burge (Earl) of Linden, AL, David J. Tyler of Pensecola, FL, Martha Tyler Lawley (Jim) of Grand Island, FL and Joanne Gordon Beard (Bill) Of Pisgah, AL; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, colleagues and friends.
Dr. Betsy Gordon joined the faculty in 1990 and was promoted to full professor in 2008. Her devotion was recognized in McKendree’s faculty awards trifecta: the United Methodist Church Exemplary Teacher (1995), Emerson Excellence in Teaching (2004), and Grandy Faculty Award (2013). She chaired the Division of Language, Literature, and Communication from 2001-2009 and helped bring about the theatre and Spanish majors. She directed first-year advising and served on or chaired many committees. For two years she lived among students at the McKendree West apartments, where she introduced a book club, a film series, and an annual Christmas Cookie Day for students. In 1999, she represented McKendree during Technos International Week in Japan and she was a member of Phi Kappa Phi.
Betsy loved to travel and she had a special affinity for the College Baseball World Series. She studied communication and became a stalwart on our teaching faculty. She loved the arts and was an ardent supporter of the Hett. Although she never had children of her own, she always thought of all of her students as her children.
Dr. Gordon retired as a full professor of speech communication on December 31, 2017. In her letter of resignation, prior to her retirement Betsy wrote, “I frequently tell my students that if I could give them one gift, it would be the gift of loving what they do as much as I love teaching. Teaching at McKendree for the past twenty-seven years has been such a privilege and a joy.” Betsy was an amazing presence on this campus and friend to all who knew her. She will be deeply missed.
A memorial service in her memory will be held at 12 p.m. Wednesday, September 26, 2018 in the Bothwell Chapel of McKendree University, with Rev. Tim Harrison ofciciating.
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