Gordon Edward Burrell

Gordon Edward Burrell, age 77, of Bruderheim, Alberta, Canada, passed away July 1, 2013, on Canada Day, in Globe, Arizona. He was visiting Arizona because he had always been impressed by the “beautiful mineralization” of different colored rocks in the Southwest”. Gordon loved to look for gold and use a gold pan in mountain streams. He studied geology and received college credits for all the night classes he took at the University of Alberta. He said if he had the chance to do it all over again, he would get a degree in geology. Gordon was born in Oakville, Ontario on December 16, 1935 to father William Charles and mother, Letishia Ada Wright. He had a tough beginning during babyhood because he was unable to keep any food down. His mom and dad borrowed a car from the local Ford dealer and drove through a blizzard with candles set in baby food cans on the dashboard to warm the windshield glass enough to keep ice from forming and blocking their view of the road. When they reached the Toronto Children’s Hospital the surgeons were waiting and prepared to do surgery on his duodenal blockage. Many babies have been saved there in the years since 1935 at the excellent hospital. As a young man, Gordon and his wife Mona moved to Indonesia with their two young sons, Charles and Jason where he was a supervisor for Bechtel International, building a canal through Indonesia. After the job was over, the family returned to Alberta where Gordon worked as a construction supervisor in various oil refineries in Fort McMurray and Ontario. Gordon was a local building contractor who received his 55 year pin from the Carpenter’s Union in 2012. He was a member of the Brant 663 Masonic Lodge in Ontario. Gordon completed an environmental remediation of a 1.63 acre plot on 34th St. in Strathcona County during 2012 and was passionate about the health of Mother Earth. He was an avid hunter and belonged to the North American Gun Club for over 50 years. He panned for gold with his son Jason in the Yukon and Alaska. Gordon first wife, Mona Faye Lush, passed away in 2005. Gordon met and married Carol Weaver, of Globe, Arizona in 2007 and the couple resided in Bruderheim until his death. Gordon is survived by his wife Carol, his sons, Charles Leslie (Lynn) of Edmonton, CA and Jason Edward (Deanna) of Seattle, WA and step-children, Ted Weaver, Garin Weaver and Cara Weaver Bryant (Brady) all of Arizona, his grandsons Thomas, Hayden, Ryan and Rye-Patrick, and his grand daughters, Hannah, Emily and Lisa and nine step grandchildren and his sister, Ellen of Canada. He is preceded in death by his wife Mona, his parents William and Letishia. Memorial services will be held in Canada.