Petersburg Pilot -

John Allen Gordon, born in Bakersfield, California in 1947 and affectionately known as The Boating Buddy, passed away peacefully in Spokane, Washington on March 25, 2022.

To all who had the joy of knowing John, and even those who had only heard of him, John was undeniably bigger-than-life and full to the brim with what true riches are all about. He really was "All That!"

John married the love of his life, Kathie, and in their forty-three years together they moved from Mexico to Alaska and many points in-between. John and Kathie loved their Golden Retrievers. To be with John and Kathie was to be encircled by wagging tails and wet noses.

John was never a 9-5 type of guy; life was a wide-open pursuit of all the things he loved most: namely boats, boating, cars, and motorcycles. He was also a passionate lover of Rock-n-Roll and the Blues... and Folk and Country... and Jazz. He became a serious student and historian of American Music, culminating in his hosting The Boating Buddy radio show on KFSK in Petersburg, Alaska.

After an illustrious high school era of football, baseball and wrestling, John continued to be passionate and knowledgeable about sports. He was the funnest person to watch a game with – Seahawks, Mariners, and Gonzaga, to name a few.

John opened his big heart to The Sullivan Park Assisted Living Community for his last 3 years. As John's family, we are very grateful to the Sullivan Park staff and Hospice of Spokane for their tender, loving care of our brother.

We are thankful to God for our John; a most precious gift to us all. We know he has found perfect peace and rest; the culmination of a life well-lived. Heaven just got a little better.

John is survived by his sisters, Sally and Suz, and brothers Todd, Scott, Jim and Rick.