Arval Park Gordon (1924 – 2006) & Ruth Garfield (1828 – 2006) & Barbara Brierley

1. Arval Park Gordon (1924 – 2006) &
Ruth Garfield (1828 – 2006) &
Barbara Brierley
Arval Park Gordon
Born: 6 June 1924 Cornish, Cache Co., Utah.
Died: 9 Aug 2006 American Fork, Utah
Burial: 11 Aug 2006 Draper, Utah
Married: 9 Sept 1946 Salt Lake
City, Utah (Divorced)
Ruth Garfiedld
Born: 18 June 1928
Murray, Utah
Died: 29 Dec 2006 Sandy,
Utah
Married: 2 Jan 1979 Salt Lake City, Utah
Barbara Brierley
Born: 3 Feb 1933 Salt Lake City, Utah
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MY STORY BY ARVAL PARK GORDON
I was born, June, 6 1924, to Samuel Arthur
and Harriet Louisa Meikle Gordon at
Cornish, Cache County, Utah.
Sister Ethyl and Mother holding Arval
Cornish, Utah – About 1924/25 ------

2. My earliest recollection was living in a log
house in Manderfield, Utah. I really don't
remember much at this time except the
house. Then our family moved to Salt Lake
City, Carson Court, one half block west of
State Street on 6th South. I cannot
remember how long we lived here, but at
this time my father came home to stay with
us. I remember cutting my tongue with a
pair of scissors.
Then our family moved to 3372 South 11th
East in Salt Lake Co. At this home I can
remember more, here I spent most of my
youth. Father built chicken coups and we had chicken and egg business. I use to go with
my Father to sell his eggs and whatever else he had to sell.. I remember going to Uncle
Harvey's store. We had good visits there. Also Dad would visit with Uncle Will. These
were my Father's brothers.
My Father passed away in his sleep after quite an illness. He passed
away at our home on 18 Jan. 1938. Of my Father I can say he taught
me many lessons for which I have always been thankful. I must have
been pretty special to him as I look back. I was always with him doing
whatever he did, and he took me without a moment’s hesitation. I
repeated my Father and his passing was a great loss to me. I was 14
when my Father died.
Then I remember my Mother and I lived alone. My
Mother was the most patient and kind person I have ever
known. Mother had been confined to a wheelchair the last
years of her life. She died 8 Mar. 1943, at my brother
Jim's home in Draper.
I enlisted in the Navy 19 Nov.
1942. I went to Farragut,
Idaho for boot training and to
Mare Island in California for
more training. I trained in the
hospital corp. Then I was
attached to a hospital unit
and we left for overseas,
Thanksgiving Day Nov. 1943.

3. While I was stationed at Mare Island I, at one time, met my Bro. Vernon (who at this time
was in the service to). We spent the day together, not knowing this would be the last time I
would see him in this life. He was also shipped over seas and was killed on Bougainville
(near New Guinea) 23 Fob 1944.
I was sent to New Guinea. I left
the hospital and went to sea the
spring of 194!}.. I was part of a
crew of 10 men and two
Doctor's. We made up a hospital
who's job it was to evacuate the
wounded from the invasions of
the moves up thru the Islands. I
was in the Phillipine Islands
April and May 1945. Then we
made the invasions of Barnieo, I
was sent back to the United
States Oct 1945. I was
discharged 9 Nov 1945.
I returned to Draper, Utah and lived with my Bro. James and family. I worked at the
Draper Poultry Plant. At this time I bought, from my Brother Vern’s wife, Rayola; their
home in Draper.
During; this year I met and fell in love with Ruth Garfield
of Draper, Utah. We
moved into our little
home and started in the
chicken business. I also
worked at other jobs. It
was one this property that
my wife Ruth and I built
our home. All we hired
done was the brick work
and the plaster work. We
loved and enjoyed this
home. I also worked at
the Fitlrol Corp for 11
years. Then we sold this
home and moved to
Wendell Idaho. There we
had an eighty acre farm and also another forty acre
place. We farmed and had a dairy herd. But luck was not with us and we sold the farm
and moved back to Utah in 1964.

4. We located in Sandy at 8023 South 830 East. I started-to work for the Jordan School
District in July 1965.
We have enjoyed living here, all our children have gone to school here and several have
graduated from the schools here.
Ruth and I have had seven children. Four boys and three girls.
They were all born at the old Cottonwood Hospital in Murray, Utah.
Arval and Ruth were later divorce.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arval married Barbara Brierley 2 Jan 1979 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

5. Your tombstone stands neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out on polished, marbled stone.
It reaches out to all who care. It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist. You died and I was born.
Yet each of us are cells of you in flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our heart contracts and beats a pulse entirely not our own.
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled so many years ago.
Spreads out among the ones you left who would have loved you so.
I wonder as you lived and loved, I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot and come to visit you.
Author Unknown

6. Obituary: Arval Park Gordon
Published: Thursday, Aug. 10 2006 10:52 a.m. MDT
Arval Park Gordon 1924 ~ 2006 Arval Park Gordon, 82 of
American Fork, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2006.
He was born on June 6, 1924 to Samuel Arthur and Harriet
Louise Meikle Gordon in Cornish, Cache County, UT. He
married Ruth Garfield September 9, 1946, later divorced. He
married Barbara Brierley Maxwell on January 2, 1979 in the
Salt Lake LDS Temple.
He honorably served in the Navy for three years during World
War II. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, serving as a High Priest in the Sunset Hills
1st Ward and working at the Provo and Mt. Timpanogos
Temples for 15 years. He worked for Jordan School District
for 21 years, where he was loved by all of the children and his
co-workers. He enjoyed fishing, especially trolling. He had a
love for golf and enjoyed playing with family and friends. He
loved spending time with his family.
Arval is survived by his wife, Barbara; children William
(Terri) Gordon, West Jordan; Samuel (Sharlia) Gordon, Show
Low, AZ; Leslie (Kathy) Gordon, Taylorsville; Danny (Angie)
Gordon, Salt Lake City; Christine (Gary) Robinson, Salt Lake
City; Linda Stone, Bountiful; Patricia (Larry) Crystal,
Bountiful; step-children Ray (Linda) Maxwell, Pleasant
Grove; James (Shauna) Maxwell, Tabiona; David (Crystal)
Maxwell, North Dakota; Lawrence (Laura) Maxwell, Tabiona;
Robert (Gina) Maxwell, Kearns; Cherie (Scott) Carlisle,
Afton, WY; Mary Ann (Scott) Hebbert, Myerstown, PA;
Michelle (Dave) Smith, Perry, UT; 51 grandchildren; 52 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, nine
brothers and sisters, and three grandsons.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 11, 2006 at
11:00 am in the Sunset Hills 1st Ward LDS Chapel, 949 N. 540
W. American Fork. Friends and family may call on Thursday
evening from 6-8:00 pm at the Wing Mortuary, 118 E. Main,
Lehi, and at the church on Friday, one hour prior to services.
Interment, Draper City Cemetery.

7. Find a grave
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15267382
Arval Park Gordon
Birth: Jun. 6, 1924
Death: Aug. 8, 2006
Burial: Draper City Cemetery , Draper, Salt Lake County, Utah
Plot: C-14-2
Ruth Garfield Gordon
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=17264553
Birth: Jun. 18, 1928 Salt Lake County, Utah, USA
Death: Dec. 29, 2006, Sandy, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA