GENE GORDON PICKERING
December 10, 1927 – October 28, 2024

The greatest storyteller of all is now sharing his stories in heaven.  A minute would always turn into an hour when visiting Gordon, so here is the "short version" of the story of his life.

Gordon was born in Issaquah, Washington, to Esther Marie Brehm and Royal Robert Pickering.  He was the fourth son of five children.  Gordon grew up on the Pickering dairy farm in the Issaquah Valley.  It was a magical place to grow up where he learned to work and play hard with his brothers, sister and friends.  Working and playing hard became the focus of his life.  Before school he milked the cows and finished his day doing the same.  He was paid 2 and ½ cents a cow and remembers getting a raise one Christmas to 3 and ½ cents.  Besides swimming in the creek, fishing, and riding horses, Gordon took tumbling lessons at the YMCA.  He and his brothers also had a band where they each played guitars and Gordon played the ukulele.  Every spare minute he was busy.  Gordon graduated from Issaquah High School in 1945.  Upon graduation, he and his good friend Grant Marshall drove to California where they encountered a brush fire and they escaped injury but the car was destroyed.  From this experience he witnessed the joy of life, the wealth of good people, and that he needed a college education.  There was no family money to send him to college. Even though he was told he was too late to apply, taking what he had saved, he hitchhiked to Washington State College and somehow talked his way into registering for classes.  No dorm rooms were available and he ended up living in the cold basement of a house by himself.  While at the WSU CUB he saw a notice for cheerleading tryouts.  His tumbling experience came in handy, and he made the cheer team.  This opened many doors for him including joining the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.  At eighteen years of age, and after a year of school, he enlisted into the US Army to take advantage of the GI bill.  He was awarded the expert rifleman award, and was eventually stationed in Japan where he was invited to join the Medic Corp.  After his service, he returned to WSU and the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and decided to major in business administration and a minor in architecture.  In 1949 on a blind date, he met and fell in love with Virginia Allen who he would eventually marry and spend 70 years with.  In 1952 he graduated and was married to Virginia that same year in Tacoma at Christ Episcopal Church.  They built their first home on Pickering Hill in Issaquah and started their family, eventually having four children.  Within a few years they moved to University Place, Washington, where he built their second home.  Gordon started his business career in sales with US Plywood and then established his own company, Pickering Industries, which thrived for 38 years, reaching national prominence.  Gordon was a member of the Masonic Lodge #8 of Issaquah, Rotary #8 of Tacoma, the American Laminators Association (Founder), and Fircrest Golf Club where he joined in 1971 and then served as President.

Gordon's passion for life was teaching his children many fun activities such as snow skiing, water skiing, fishing, hunting, camping, and traveling.  Some of his happiest moments were when he was tending to his raspberries, fruit trees, and garden.  His special place was sitting in the sunshine on his patio.  Gordon was the last Pickering of his generation. Gordon was preceded in death by his wife Virginia in 2022.  He will be greatly missed by his four children: Allen (Cheri) Pickering, Jill (Stuart) Shelton, Jeff (Christine) Pickering, and Lori Pickering.  He also leaves behind eight grandchildren: Jennifer, Andrew, Melissa, Emily, Eric, Evan, Abbie and Sadie.  Also, 14 great grandchildren and countless friendships.  Gordon's advice to us all was to cherish your family, work and play hard, and have fun.  We hope that the impact of his life, on so many others' lives, will allow his stories to never end.  We would like to thank all the kind people who help take care of him in his final weeks; St. Joseph's hospital, Avamere Rehab Center, Hospice, and the staff at Merrill Gardens at Wright's Park.

A memorial and reception is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13th at 3 pm at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 7410 South 12th St. Tacoma, Washington, 98465 with reception immediately following at the Fircrest Golf Club 1500 Regents Blvd, Fircrest, Washington, 98466. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to First Tee of Tacoma and/or the American Heart Association.