Sammy Gordon

Sammy Joe Gordon of Whitney passed away on October 15, 2025, after battling MDS and Leukemia for many years. He was born on February 13, 1945, in Hillsboro, Texas, at the Boyd Sanitarium to James Olin Gordon and Ruthie Faye Burch Gordon. The family moved to Fort Worth, where Sam grew up, the oldest of four.

Sam fell in love with baseball at an early age. He would sleep in his uniform with his cleats hanging off the bed. His first job was delivering the Fort Worth press at age twelve. He worked at the Whirl A World, and then A.L. Davis grocery. He also helped his dad work on cars where he learned his love of trading cars.

Sam graduated from Castleberry High School in 1963. He enrolled at Weatherford Junior College while working full-time at General Dynamics. He then enrolled at what he jokingly called the University of Texas (North Campus), UTA.

In June 1970, Sam met Martha Naylor in Physics. Martha has always said he was the only thing she got out of Physics class. Sam graduated in August 1970 and went to work for Arthur Anderson Accounting Firm. Sam and Martha married on May 13, 1972, at Tate Springs Baptist Church. The wedding night was spent in Hillsboro because they only had the one night. Martha says she has always worried a little because Sam forgot the marriage license, so it wasn't signed until the next day.

Sam passed the CPA exam in 1974 and was very proud of the fact that he was honored by the Texas Society of CPAs in June 2024 for having his certificate for 50 years. In 1993 Sam changed careers and became a financial consultant for Merrill Lynch. He absolutely loved financial planning and stayed with it until 2022 when he retired from Wedbush Securities.

He enjoyed sports, particularly the University of Texas football. He was able to watch the last Texas Bowl game and saw his Longhorns win one more time.

Coaching youth sports was Sam's passion. He coached baseball from T-ball to Pony League. He coached his sons and grandsons in basketball. Moving to Mansfield in 1980, soccer was just being introduced. He coached his sons and in 1984 won Mansfield's first North Texas FIFA Championship with his U8 Tiger Cats. Sam was always thrilled to be called coach.

Sam was baptized in 1974 in the Mansfield Church of Christ where the Gordons worshipped for over twenty years, and he was honored to serve as an elder. After moving to Whitney in 2009, he was active in the Whitney Church of Christ. He was a devout Christian and was an example for his family and friends.

He decided to learn to play the dobro and Martha learned to play the banjo. Together the Gordons enjoyed country, gospel, and bluegrass at camps, jams, nursing homes, and with friends.

The Gordons were able to travel to many places. Their foreign travel included Mexico, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Paris. Sam loved his trips with Anson and Alan doing adventures outdoors. Sam and Martha visited thirty-four states and enjoyed them all. The one that means a lot now was in 1999. Sam and Martha were able to have dinner at Windows on the World on top of the World Trade Center.

Sam and Martha were married for over fifty-three years and had a wonderful life. Sam is survived by his wife, Martha, daughter Angela Snow and husband Troy of Mansfield, son Anson Gordon, and wife Shelby of Austin and son Alan Gordon and wife Ashley of Mansfield. Granddaughter Makenzie Livingston and husband Cameron, grandsons Tanner Snow, Tyler Snow, Ethan Gordon, Dylan Gordon, River Gordon, and girlfriend Emily McClure, Cade Gordon and fiancée Caidyn Waybourn, and Jhett Gordon. Great-granddaughter Hayden Livingston. Sisters Mary Laird and husband Jim, Brenda Barton and husband Melvin. Nieces Cari Wood and Jayme Brooks and husband Alex. Nephew Lee Barton

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother James "Bo" Gordon, and infant daughter Tracey Lynn Gordon.