Our beloved Donnie Jean Gordon passed away on January 14, 2023, surrounded by her family. She was 78 years old and her departure from this earthly existence has left a void in our lives that nothing can ever fill.

Donnie was born on February 15, 1944, in Kansas City, Missouri, as the first child of William Donald and Dora Charlyn (nee Porter) Jameson. As a young woman, she married Howard Mosher and had three children with him. They divorced, and in 1974 she met the love of her life, Thomas James Gordon, and his two young children. Together they had one more child, and they raised their six children out in the country in Northern Minnesota, instilling in them a love of the Lord, a commitment to hard work and an appreciation for everything. Donnie and Tom were nearing their 50 ^th wedding anniversary and their devotion to each other was an inspiration. Donnie is survived by many family members who will miss her greatly: her husband Tom, six children: Lori (Deb) Gordon, Cynthya Porter, Erica (Mark) Burns, Naomi Gordon, Russell (Kelly) Mosher and Andrew Gordon, her siblings Dennis (Marlene) Jameson and Sandra Janney, her grandchildren Mallory, McKenzie, Erin, Garrett, and Jasmin plus those she loved like her grandchildren - Cameron, Steven and Matthew, and her great grandchildren Aubriella and newborn Rylee, who she met for the first time on the day of her passing. Donnie is also survived by nieces and nephews and their families, all of whom she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Sharia.

Donnie was the matriarch of her large family – an inspiring woman whose achievements even in difficult times set the bar for everyone around her. As a young single mother, she saved enough of her secretary's salary to buy a house, and later, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology – graduating magna cum laude - while working full time and raising six children. Her career as a counselor at Mesabi Community College gave her the opportunity to touch so many lives, and she would often fill her family's home on holidays with students who didn't have the resources to travel to their own homes. She was a smart woman – wickedly smart – and her family often joked about her being an Irish witch because of the insight she seemed to have on many situations. She was an extremely analytical thinker and her advice was golden.

Donnie's hallmark was throwing herself into things with passion, which led her to be a small business owner thrice over, an amazing seamstress, a great cook, an obsessed gardener and, above all else, an incredible mother. The traditions she created around birthdays and holidays have become precious keepsakes for her family, though we did have to eventually ban her from the kitchen during holiday meal prep because she ran it like a sergeant and it scared everyone. Donnie was fierce – she was the kind of person you wanted in your corner no matter what you were going through – and she was intensely loyal to the people she loved.

Besides tending her beautiful gardens, some of her favorite pastimes were dreaming up ideas, traveling, dancing and laughing, and the people who love her will forever miss enjoying those things with her. Her life was too short, and it was with devastating sadness that her family said goodbye to her. We are sure, however, that she is in heaven right now telling God what time he needs to put the turkey in and yelling at angels about green bean casserole. At least we know they are all in good hands with her there running the show.

Until we are with her again, we will cherish the days we had with her and know that we were all blessed to be part of the circle of strength and light she brought to the world around her.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook, Minnesota. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.