Gordon Kevin Grist Stevens ~ My Most Fabulous Father-in-Law
Gordon Kevin Grist Stevens is Father to Michael, Simon, and my husband, Marcus and Step-Father to Indra and Tara. He is Grand-Father to 16 outstanding, beautiful, and brilliant grandchildren and Great Grand-Father of six.
Gordon died on the 10th of September after a brief hospital stay and even though he was 93 years of age, I can assure you, the majority of his family thought he would be returning home.
Death places loved ones remaining behind in a surreal state - moving through the sadness, yet...all the while not actually believing the news could be true. Denial. Pain. Sadness. Disbelief. Grief. Denial. Regret. Love. Denial. Disbelief. And...more...pain.
A myriad of emotions swirl around in our minds.
Parents and Grandparents get a bad rap ~ they are continuously accused of having favourites and, no doubt, 'favs' occur naturally ~ organically. Some family members we bond with faster or easier than others ~ but, that never, ever means love is absent.
Gordon has/had a HUGE family and he had enough love to engage an army. My Father-in-Law wrote the most entertaining emails...up until the end. He was sharp, quick-witted, and absolutely on top of current events. Gordon read The Times daily and was on top of Brexit ~ whinging about Boris - having a 'Go' at Jeremy Corbyn - nothing got past this man. He loved England. He wanted the 'BEST' for her and he could not stand to see the political scene unfolding in its present manner - 'Most distressing' were his words if I remember correctly in one of his last conversations with Marcus.
And...don't get me started on cricket OR any game involving Australia and England - the phone calls would FLY BACK and FORTH between Kapunda and Chelsea when these two teams were competing.
When one was in Gordon's presence he was one of those people whom made you feel as if you were the most important person in the room.
His mind was an encyclopedia ~ filled to the brim with major world historical events and he thrived on macro and microeconomic conversations, too - that was his forte. Gordon was powerful and a brilliant CEO in his former professional life. There were times when it felt as if he were directing his family - managing it - exactly how a CEO would direct a company. But now, upon reflection...don't all families need a good CEO?
I think...now...perhaps they do.
What is a ship without a captain?
Gordon set the tempo for the Stevens' Family ~ and he set the bar high.
Gordon was married to his sons' Mother, Terese, until she lost her battle with brain cancer. He rarely spoke of Tess, but when he did - anyone - receiving these gentle gems or pearls of knowledge regarding Tess knew exactly how much Tess meant to him. We realize that Gordon was quite devastated about her death. He soldiered on...mostly in silence...plus, he had 3 fine sons to raise and he knew he had to 'Get on with it'.
Gordon softened with his age as most individuals do and everyone watched Gordon as he interacted with his vibrant family growing with an abundance of great-granchildren! Great grand-babies bring GREAT JOY and that joy would be written all over Gordon's face.
For 58 years (think about that number...) Gordon has been married to Margaret. No doubt, Margaret will be lost for a while - they were virtually 'joined at the hip' - 58 years is a life-time and I, for one, think about Margaret when I close my eyes to go to sleep at night. I cannot imagine how she climbs those stairs to slip into bed without him...
So, we Thank You, Gordon, for the rich and magical memories - for your quite divine, provocative, intriguing, and cheeky speeches - it IS going to be difficult to manage a reunion without hearing a speech from YOU.
You enriched our lives - you made us better people - you made us understand the importance of commitment and loyalty and giving each day your 'ALL'. You lived with hope and you lived by setting the example that a 'good life' is living each day to its fullest - never expecting or...imagining...that the end would be...near.
You are loved ~ you will be forever ~ tremendously missed.
I am only one daughter-in-law - but, you helped to shape me because I adored you and I wanted you to be proud of me - proud of what Marcus and I accomplished together and - in the end - we knew that you appreciated the life we have built. YOU appreciated each of your family members.
Letting people know that you love them when they are alive is the single most important thing we can do as family members and...as a society. Gordon, without a single doubt, knew how much he was loved.
Posted with love and extreme sadness on behalf of Tinto,
Blanco of The Roaming Stevens
The Celebration of 'Gordon' ~ Margaret, seated next to him.
PS: Please excuse any typos.
Gordon died on the 10th of September after a brief hospital stay and even though he was 93 years of age, I can assure you, the majority of his family thought he would be returning home.
Death places loved ones remaining behind in a surreal state - moving through the sadness, yet...all the while not actually believing the news could be true. Denial. Pain. Sadness. Disbelief. Grief. Denial. Regret. Love. Denial. Disbelief. And...more...pain.
A myriad of emotions swirl around in our minds.
Parents and Grandparents get a bad rap ~ they are continuously accused of having favourites and, no doubt, 'favs' occur naturally ~ organically. Some family members we bond with faster or easier than others ~ but, that never, ever means love is absent.
Gordon has/had a HUGE family and he had enough love to engage an army. My Father-in-Law wrote the most entertaining emails...up until the end. He was sharp, quick-witted, and absolutely on top of current events. Gordon read The Times daily and was on top of Brexit ~ whinging about Boris - having a 'Go' at Jeremy Corbyn - nothing got past this man. He loved England. He wanted the 'BEST' for her and he could not stand to see the political scene unfolding in its present manner - 'Most distressing' were his words if I remember correctly in one of his last conversations with Marcus.
And...don't get me started on cricket OR any game involving Australia and England - the phone calls would FLY BACK and FORTH between Kapunda and Chelsea when these two teams were competing.
When one was in Gordon's presence he was one of those people whom made you feel as if you were the most important person in the room.
His mind was an encyclopedia ~ filled to the brim with major world historical events and he thrived on macro and microeconomic conversations, too - that was his forte. Gordon was powerful and a brilliant CEO in his former professional life. There were times when it felt as if he were directing his family - managing it - exactly how a CEO would direct a company. But now, upon reflection...don't all families need a good CEO?
I think...now...perhaps they do.
What is a ship without a captain?
Gordon set the tempo for the Stevens' Family ~ and he set the bar high.
Gordon was married to his sons' Mother, Terese, until she lost her battle with brain cancer. He rarely spoke of Tess, but when he did - anyone - receiving these gentle gems or pearls of knowledge regarding Tess knew exactly how much Tess meant to him. We realize that Gordon was quite devastated about her death. He soldiered on...mostly in silence...plus, he had 3 fine sons to raise and he knew he had to 'Get on with it'.
Gordon softened with his age as most individuals do and everyone watched Gordon as he interacted with his vibrant family growing with an abundance of great-granchildren! Great grand-babies bring GREAT JOY and that joy would be written all over Gordon's face.
For 58 years (think about that number...) Gordon has been married to Margaret. No doubt, Margaret will be lost for a while - they were virtually 'joined at the hip' - 58 years is a life-time and I, for one, think about Margaret when I close my eyes to go to sleep at night. I cannot imagine how she climbs those stairs to slip into bed without him...
So, we Thank You, Gordon, for the rich and magical memories - for your quite divine, provocative, intriguing, and cheeky speeches - it IS going to be difficult to manage a reunion without hearing a speech from YOU.
You enriched our lives - you made us better people - you made us understand the importance of commitment and loyalty and giving each day your 'ALL'. You lived with hope and you lived by setting the example that a 'good life' is living each day to its fullest - never expecting or...imagining...that the end would be...near.
You are loved ~ you will be forever ~ tremendously missed.
I am only one daughter-in-law - but, you helped to shape me because I adored you and I wanted you to be proud of me - proud of what Marcus and I accomplished together and - in the end - we knew that you appreciated the life we have built. YOU appreciated each of your family members.
Letting people know that you love them when they are alive is the single most important thing we can do as family members and...as a society. Gordon, without a single doubt, knew how much he was loved.
Posted with love and extreme sadness on behalf of Tinto,
Blanco of The Roaming Stevens
Terese...(Tess) ~ far right at her sister, Billie's wedding...
Terese ~ his first love...
Terese with her sister, Billie...
Gordon on his '80th'.
Gordon and his Three Fine Sons: Michael, Simon, and Marcus
Gordon and Margaret celebrating in earlier days...
PS: Please excuse any typos.
Just a lovely post, Patricia. You captured this remarkable man so well.
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Gordon was an amazing man ~ thank you. Thinking of you...
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