Joseph Gordon Christensen

Joseph Gordon Christensen

Ephraim, UT

Joseph Gordon Christensen, 81, of Ephraim, passed away peacefully on November 22, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. Gordon was born April 9, 1933 in Ephraim to Fredrick Rodney and Amy Lizella Christensen.

Gordon attended Snow College, where he gained many cherished memories before graduating in 1953. He was deeply honored to receive the Snow College Distinguished Alumni Award in September 2012. After graduating from Snow, Gordon was drafted into the US Army and served two years in the Signal Corps, 14 months of which were spent at a communications outpost outside Seoul, Korea. After returning to civilian life, Gordon accepted a call to serve a mission in Sydney Australia. Gordon talked fondly of his mission experiences throughout his life.

Gordon met his sweetheart, Marcia Lee Bourne, while working on his Master’s Degree at Brigham Young University. Gordon and Marcia celebrated their 52 ^nd wedding anniversary the day before his passing. They have been a great example of love, sacrifice and partnership to their 7 children, 27 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Gordon and Marcia raised their family in Escondido, CA, where Gordon worked primarily in education. He was selected as Superintendent of San Pasqual Union School District, where he spent 11 years of his career before retiring.  Upon retirement, Gordon and Marcia served 3 missions as a couple. They were called to work in the Carlsbad, California Mission office, and later received a call from the BYU Kennedy International Center to teach English for a year in the PhD program at Peking University in Beijing, China. Nine years ago, Gordon and Marcia returned to Gordon’s beloved hometown of Ephraim, where they were called to serve as missionaries at the Snow College Institute. Gordon and Marcia enjoyed traveling and had the opportunity to see much of the world together. They often traveled around the country to visit their grandkids (and the parents). Grandpa Gordon was adored by all his grandchildren and leaves behind precious memories of affectionate hugs, hide-and-seek games and heartfelt expressions of love. Gordon was kind, generous and soft spoken. He had a unique gift of making every person he met feel immediately loved and valued. He worked tirelessly in every aspect of his life and was an incredible example of the value of hard work.

Gordon had a deep love for the gospel and used his last breaths to share his testimony and love for his Savior to his children and grandchildren. Throughout his life, Gordon held many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Gordon had a subtle sense of humor that he kept to the very end, telling everyone gathered around his hospital bed that they should go get something to eat, before adding, "It’s on Marcia". Gordon will be especially missed by all who knew and loved him and his family feels immensely blessed to have been part of his amazing legacy.

Gordon is survived by his wife, Marcia; children: Robin Christensen, Lehi; Scott Christensen, Temecula, CA; Joseph (Valorie) Christensen, Savannah, GA; Amy (Douglas) Schmitt, Draper; Andy (Jennie) Christensen, Ephraim; David (Tasha) Christensen, Snohomish, WA; and Randall (Mary) Christensen, Columbia, MD; sister, Mary Amelia Jorgensen, Ephraim. He is preceded in death by his parents; siblings; Zella Rae Barton, Fredrick "Freddy" Christensen, Richard Christensen and Una Gwen Christensen.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 28, 2014 at 12:00 Noon in the Ephraim 4 ^th Ward Chapel. Friends may call prior to services at the church on Friday from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Ephraim Park Cemetery with military rites by the Manti American Legion Post #31. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.