Ira Jo (Clemons) Gordon

The Homegoing Celebration for Mrs. Ira Jo Gordon will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 11:00AM at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 612 South Locust Street, Charleston, Missouri. The Interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery.

A Time of Visitation for Mrs. Gordon will be held in St. Louis, Missouri on Thursday, January 10, 2019 from 9:00AM-12:00Noon in the Historic Chapel of Austin A. Layne Mortuary, Inc., 7239 Austin A. Layne Jr. Way (West Florissant), St. Louis, Missouri 63136. 

Public Viewing and Visitation for Mrs. Gee will be held in Charleston, Missouri on Friday, January 11, 2019 from 6:00PM-8:00PM at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 612 South Locust Street, Charleston, Missouri.

Mrs. Ira Jo Gordon, affectionately known as Mrs. Gee, 85, resident of Charleston, Missouri died Monday, January 7, 2019 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.  She was born April 9, 1933 in Anniston, Missouri to the late Stennis Clemons, Sr. and Mary Kirkland. At the loss of her mother at a young age, she was raised by her father and stepmother, the late Velma Germany Clemons.

Mrs. Gordon accepted Christ at an early age and became a member of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Charleston, Missouri where she served for over 60 years singing in the choir and in later years served on the Mother's Board. 

She was employed as a Secretary for DAEOC for a number of years.  In 1984, she became Secretary (among other duties), at Sparks Funeral Home (currently Williams Funeral Home) here in Charleston until  her retirement in December 2013.  She LOVED her job and far more than that - to her it was her purpose to help others.  She spoke highly of all her employers, Mr. Millner, Mrs. Sparks, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Purnell and especially Mr. Charles Williams.  

On January 30, 1952, she was united in holy matrimony to the late Fred Lee Gordon and to this union eight children were born. They enjoyed 44 years together.  

She graduated from Lincoln High School in May of 1952.  After graduating she also served as Secretary of the school.

Mrs. Gee loved being around and talking to anyone who would listen - didn't matter who you were or where you came from.  She was passionate about cooking - scratch biscuits, tea cakes and those sweet Sunday morning cobblers - so sweet that you could taste it while it was baking. She loved to quilt and sew. You could always catch her in her own original ensemble complete with a hat that was sewn on Saturday night, pressed and worn for Sunday morning service!  And how she loved going to Pinhook EVERY Sunday!  Always a fun time to be had on The Hook with Jimmie James and 'Retha Robinson.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

In addition to her parents, stepmother and husband, she is preceded in death by four brothers, James, Otha Lee, Stennis Jr and Phillip Clemons, four sisters, Pauline Lewis, Virginia Crider, Etta Stockston and Yvonne Mack and two grandsons, Everett Gordon, Jr. and Monte' Gordon.

Mrs. Gordon leaves to cherish her memories: four sons, Alfred (Diane) Gordon of Gary, Indiana, Everett Gordon of Charleston, Missouri, Kevin (Lorretta) Gordon of Phoenix, Arizona, Fabian Gordon of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; four daughters, JoAnn, Betty Gordon, Cynthia (John) Townsend of Cape Girardeau, Missouri and Cecelia (Darnell) Standifer of St. Louis, Missouri; two brothers, Joe Mitchell (Bernice) Brown of Detroit, Michigan and John (Flora) Clemons of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; three sisters-in-law, Augusta Goodin of St. Louis, Missouri, Dianna Gorden of St. Louis, Missouri and Mae Frances (Willie) Curtis of Bowie, Maryland; her favorite cousin/sister, Sadie Brockett of Texas City, Texas; the Ladies' Circle, Aretha Robinson, Rutha Boyd, Leora Hamilton, Mable Mullins, Shirley Powell, Charla Clark, Doretha Visor, Fay Bigham and Elizabeth Murray; ten grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, a host nephews, nieces, cousins and many, many friends.

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