Merton Gordon of Madrid passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at Canton-Potsdam Hospital. He was 83. “Mert” was born in Lyman, Maine in 1928 to L. Maurice and Cora Dixon Gordon. He attended Kennebunk schools and joined the Merchant Marine during World War II. He served in both the Pacific and North Atlantic Theaters. After the war, he married Patricia Weatherbee of Kennebunk. They had five sons.
A mason by trade, Mert worked his entire life in construction. He owned his own business in Kennebunk and then moved to Rockland County, in the early 60’s. There he worked for various construction companies, such as A. Linguanti and Sons, building schools, hospitals, office buildings, and housing developments. In the 70’s, he began a nearly twenty-year career as project manager of several huge
construction ventures overseas in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and England. Some of his projects included a hotel on the Nile, a hospital, a military base, and even a gold processing plant. While overseas, he and his wife Pat traveled to many countries including Thailand, Greece, Spain, and Scotland.
Upon his return to the US, Mert managed several building projects in New York City including work on Broadway and the World Trade Center. In the early 90’s he and Pat moved to Madrid where he helped his son Bruce manage Handymen For Hire. He worked there full time until the age of 79. At 80 he made his second mission trip with Christian Fellowship Center to the Domincan Republic. Mert will be deeply missed by his family and by the many friends he made here in the North Country through his work and his
church. His life was colorful, active, and lived to the fullest.
Mert was predeceased by his brother, William; his granddaughter, Patty; and his wife Pat.
He is survived by his sister, Bonnie, of Kennebunk, ME; his five sons, Michael (and Nancy) of Lyman, ME, Bruce (and Dale) of Madrid, Glen (and Debbie) of Potsdam, Robbie of Russell, and Jon (and Cherie) of Madrid; and 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Calling hours for friends and family will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday at the Phillips Memorial Home in Madrid. A service at 4 p.m. at the funeral home officiated by Pastor Richard Sinclair of the Madrid Christian Fellowship Center will follow calling hours.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Mert’s memory to Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence County, 6805 US Hwy 11, Potsdam, NY. Online condolences may be made to www.phillipsmemorial.com.
