Rex Arnold Gordon was born August 3, 1950, in Elma, Washington, to Russell Henry and Betty Rose (Helland) Gordon. He passed away March 26, 2020, in Olympia. Rex is survived by four brothers: Gary (Candi) of Elma, Tim of Elma, Fred (Leslie) of Marysville, Washington and Scott (Grace) of Tomah, Wisconsin and two sisters: Merry Ann Gordon of McCleary and Melissa Gordon of Tumwater. Nieces and nephews: Shannon (Wayne) Wallace of Olympia, Timmy Gordon of Elma, Dustin Gordon of McCleary and Michelle(Tyler) Ingram of Arlington, Washington. There are numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, all of whom are, were and continue to be a part of the very large extended family that we all cherish so much.

Rex was preceded in death by our parents, Russell and Betty and brother Hal Gordon. Also instrumental in our upbringing were our grandparents, Rollin and Gladys Gordon and Fred and Ruby Helland.

Rex was proud to be a direct descendant of Benjamin Gordon, our great-great grandfather, who came to Tumwater in 1845 with George Bush’s party as some of the first non-indigenous settlers in the area.

Rex attended Elma schools, graduating in 1968. He earned an AA degree from Grays Harbor College and a B.S. degree in Forestry from UW in 1972. He spent his early work career at various local shake and shingle mills. Even later, he was involved in the family business, buying and selling shakes and shingles and, later producing cedar tow bales for use as archery targets and to nurseries as flower bedding. He ended his working career at Grays Harbor Paper until it’s close.

Rex’s true passion was hunting and, especially, fishing for Salmon and Steelhead on some of Grays Harbor’s scenic rivers. The Humptulips was his favorite and with good reason. “Wrong Way Rex”, as he was called by many of his fishing acquaintances for his lefthanded, upside-down pole style, nevertheless was one of that elite 5% of fishermen who catch 95% of the fish. His big prize was a beautiful 24lb monster steelie in 1984.

Rex is one of Grandpa Rollin Gordon’s eight grandsons (including cousins Gordy and Jay Boyd) who benefited from Rollie’s vast knowledge of the outdoors. He taught all of us to hunt, fish and generally navigate the woods, all the while teaching a respect for nature’s bounty and the importance of preserving it for the future. Surely, lessons that were not lost on any of us. Rex paid back that knowledge by taking his younger brothers and many, many other younger people hunting and taught them the same lessons he had learned.

Rex was the quiet one in our family and a bit shy in crowds, but he was “Gordon” all the way and he will be missed.

Because of the current pandemic we will forego a formal memorial at this time but will plan something at a future date.