Gordon Arthur Durham
On March 5, 2010, Gordon Arthur “Ernie” Durham decided to call it a day. He was born on January 11, 1951 to Arthur “Bud” Durham and Virginia Durham in Williston, North Dakota. He spent most of his youth in Powell, Wyoming, where he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and pursuing a level of mischief that would make for an almost endless number of interesting stories for his future children to hear from his brothers and friends, while he looked on in mock disapproval.
Shortly after graduating from Powell High School in 1969, Gordon moved to Billings, Montana where he began a 37 year career with Pierce Flooring. Somewhere in between being a flooring salesman and installer extraordinaire and his hobbies as a bean bag chair tester and spirits connoisseur, he found the time to marry the love of his life, Lynn Palagi in 1973. 1979 and 1981 would become banner years for the young couple, as they would see the births of their two children, Derek and Blair, who would make the couple both boring, boring people who were too consumed with love and a sense of responsibility to carry the banner of irresponsible fun. Consequently, Gordon left his part-time job as life of the party to instead successfully pursue a career as a patient, understanding, and devoted father.
After his retirement from the spotlight, Gordon continued his work as the ambassador of fine flooring products and low prices and found other hobbies more suiting a man of his newly found maturity, among them second-chair color commentator for the Colorado Rockies Major League Baseball franchise, John Wayne movie historian and trivia expert, friend of the used car industry, and keeper of the world's greatest mustache. He also enjoyed annual pilgrimages to Denver, Colorado to personally oversee the baseball team which he spent so much of his time so lovingly deriding. He would invariably bring one or more members of his family along to these journeys of spirit, which, while producing some of the best memories any of them had or ever will have, has had the unintended side effect of making his wife and children unable to hear “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” without crying.
Gordon was a lot of things that most people knew: personable, funny, compassionate, and stubborn. Really, really stubborn. He was also a lot of things not everyone knew: a cellist, a swimmer, a former Minor League Baseball wunderkind, an animal lover. Now he's one thing that everyone knows: missed. To those closest to him, all those things he was made of made him what he is now; a hole in our lives that can never be truly filled. He loved, was loved, and so is loved, and we will always, always be way too aware that he isn't here anymore.
Gordon is preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Virginia and his beloved sister Nancy. He is survived by his wife, Lynn Durham; his daughter, Blair Durham; his son, Derek Gordon Durham; his brother Brian Durham and wife Pat Durham; brother Terry Durham; best friend David Pond and wife Margaret Pond; and many nieces, a nephew, and friends who genuinely loved and appreciated him.
Funeral services will be held at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary at 1001 Alderson Ave. in Billings on Tuesday March 9, 2010 at 3 p.m. An additional celebration of Gordon's life will be held at the Red Stag at 145 South Bent Street in Powell, Wyoming from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday March 13th for anyone unable to make the memorial service or who just wants to drink in the man's honor.
In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that donations be made in the name of Gordon A. Durham to the Billings Clinic Foundation, P.O. Box 31031, Billings, MT 59107.
Remembrances
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Lynn, I am so sad for you and your family. I spoke with your mom and dad on Saturday when they were up to see my mom. My heart goes out to all of you. I so enjoyed reading the obituary as I really never knew your husband. He obviously was very loved and will be truly missed by many. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Sharon Rivera Sayre
I'm a classmate of Gordon's and would like to offer my heartfelt condolences to Gordon's family. He was way to young to die, and I always though way to mischievous to die. May the Lord be with you and especially his son Derek. No one should lose their dad this early. I am so sorry. Kathy (Lynn) Good - Cody, WY