Gordon passed away peacefully at home on October 30th 2022, at the age of 85.
An Eastside boy born and raised, September 29th, 1937, to Andrew McBeath & Clenora (Carlson) McBeath of Tacoma WA. He attended Lincoln High School and graduated class of 1955.
He attended UPS and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity before serving in the United States Army in the 7th Region Army Air Defense Command. He was Honorably discharged on February 23rd, 1962, from McChord Air Force based where he served as Clerk Typist.
On January 18, 1964, he married the love of his life, Norma Hainen at All Saints Parish in Puyallup. Gordy and Norma raised their family in Tacoma WA. Gordy enjoyed baseball, hockey and bowling. He played on a coed soft ball team with his wife Norma as well as men's adult league teams well into his senior years. He was a dedicated member of Ron's Night Crew, a group of lifelong friends that all grew up in the lower Portland Ave area of east Tacoma. They enjoyed restoring vehicles and displaying their work at car shows, as well as just hanging out together. Gordy also enjoyed his time as a volunteer at Charlotte's Blueberry Park, located on Tacoma's East side.
Before starting his "Hang your hat Job" as a Pipe Insulator with the Local #7 Union out of Seattle WA, Gordy held a variety of jobs. He worked for various services stations, Boeing, and as an auto parts counterman. Gordy proudly worked on many jobs as a pipe insulator in Washington, including the Steam Plant in Centralia, St Joseph's hospital in Tacoma, and T-Mobile Park in Seattle. Gordy retired at age 65 but couldn't sit still and so drove a courtesy Van for Titus Will Tacoma until age 78. He was affectionately known as Mr. Tacoma due to his natural ability to find any address without the use of a GPS.
Gordon is preceded in death by his wife, Norma McBeath; Brothers, Robert McBeath and James McBeath. He is survived by his children, Judy (Tim) Smith, Andrew McBeath (Terry), Daniel McBeath (Jennifer), Thomas McBeath, Gerald McBeath, Elizabeth McBeath; Grandchildren, Abigail (Luke) Smith, Kathrynn Smith, A.J. McBeath, Everleigh McBeath; Great-Grandchildren, Sophia, Callahan & Phineas Smith.
A special thanks to Franciscan Hospice for their care and support during dad's last week.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to either of the following:
Tacoma Metro Parks
Franciscan Hospice