Gordon Orville Strachan

Gordon Orville Strachan Beloved Dad, Gramps, husband and friend, Gordon passed peacefully Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014. He was born Oct. 9, 1926, in Niagara Falls, NY to Clifford and Josephine Minor Strachan and spent his early years with his Aunt & Uncle in Parry Sound, ON while his father and mother worked. His father later passed and he was old enough to join his mother and brother in Detroit, MI. They later moved to San Bernardino, CA. He joined the Navy October 21, 1944, and served as Seaman First Class in the S. Pacific until July 10, 1946. He attended OR State University, receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the Univ. of CO. While there he met and married the love of his life, Elizabeth Jane Watts, August 27th, 1950. They moved to San Bernardino, CA, and began life with two fine sons: Gordon II and Irl James. He continued his education moving briefly to Phoenix, AZ, Independence, CA and settled in Bishop, CA where he served various public positions as school superintendent, principal, teacher, administrative assistant, and guide and counselor for special needs children. During his career, he established programs for the educationally handicapped, taught and supervised programs for the mentally disabled, established the Early Childhood Education Program – Developmental Placement, and established Regional Occupational Programs. He was heavily involved in the community, organizing the Community Concerts Assoc. of the Sierras, was a certified official with Far West Ski Assoc. & US Ski Assoc., served on multiple Boards for community planning, transportation, and mental health issues. Gordon was proud of his Scottish heritage and performed as the base drum player for the Loch Ness Scots. Gordon and Betty enjoyed square dancing, hunting, fishing, downhill & water skiing, and horseback riding. In 1990, Gordon uprooted and moved his growing family to Bozeman, MT where he and Betty spent many years serving as docents for the Museum of the Rockies, and visited schools throughout the state sharing their knowledge of Mountain Man heritage, Lewis and Clark, and Native American culture to school children and interested adults. He loved history and supplied an earful to those fortunate enough to listen and learn. He is survived by Gordon II (Debra), grandsons Gordon III (Laura), Carl (Mariah), Irl III (Alex), Ian, and great-grandchildren Sophia, Makenzie, Sawyer, Irl IV, Sakal, SaylahJune, and many wonderful friends. The family will hold a private service and asks in lieu of flowers charitable donations may be made to the Bozeman Deaconess Cancer Center.