Esther Jean Gordon, 90, of Coleman, MI died Sunday July 28th, at Kalkaska Memorial Assisted Living.
Esther Jean Harsh was born in Coleman, Michigan on June 28, 1934, the seventh and youngest child of Belle C. (Wagner) and Miles Vernon Harsh.

Esther married Charles William Gordon on October 29, 1954, after a lengthy courtship. Esther and “Charlie/Bud” bought the farm on Vernon Road in October of 1955, and it remained her home until her passing. Esther helped Charlie pinch every penny three times and was very proud to note that “we really surprised Mrs. Lattimer when we paid the farm off early”. In September 2020, Esther moved to Kalkaska Memorial Assisted Living where she made several friends, and the staff and caregivers became her special family.

Esther worked for an insurance agency in Midland after she graduated from Coleman High School in 1952 up until their first child was born in 1957. At that time, Esther became a full-time homemaker and mother to their six children. After their two youngest children went to elementary school, Esther went to work at C.W. Gordon Chevrolet with Charlie, and managed the office and mastered the bookwork for the dealership until they retired in 1994.

Esther admitted that she was not much of a cook when they first got married, but it did not take long for her to hone her skills and become a wonderful cook and excellent baker. Charlie never had any trouble getting help on the farm – the neighbors all knew they would get paid well and have a great meal with dessert! She really could cook for thrashers!

The grandkids especially appreciated grandma’s cooking – in their early years several of them were often heard saying “grandma is a good cooker”. Some of their favorites were her biscuits and gravy, roast beef, homemade pies, chicken & dumplings, cookies and popcorn balls! But the family favorite has always been her homemade pizza. Esther was the first person in Coleman to make homemade pizza dough – Charlie ate pizza for the first time when he was in the Marines stationed in California. Esther perfected the pizza dough crust recipe that her mother-in-law, Irene, copied down from a TV show. The family still enjoys homemade pizza parties!

Esther enjoyed having the entire family around and especially loved each and every one of her children, their spouses, her 12 wonderful grandchildren and her great-grandchildren.

Esther was an excellent seamstress and could find a way to get a pattern cut out of material even if it was a half yard short of what the pattern indicated! She impressed her father-in-law early on when she made pants for the boys out of his old wool pants. For years Esther was the 4-H sewing leader and taught all of her daughters, and many of the neighborhood girls, how to sew.

In her later years quilting became Esther’s passion – staying up late at night sewing and creating many beautiful quilts. She was proud to have made each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren special quilts. She even made a “stash” of baby quilts for future great-grandchildren so they can each have one! Esther also donated quilts to several organizations for their fundraisers.

Esther was a long-time member of the Coleman Lions Club and enjoyed being a snowbird and spending 24 of her winters at Country Aire Village in Zephyrhills, Florida.

Esther is survived by her children Charla Gordon & Jim Lucas, Chandra & Doug Morse, Glenda Gordon, Connie & Dean Farrier, Garl Gordon & Julie Sander, and Curt & Cathy Gordon; her grandchildren Ellison (Aaron) Olson, Evan Lucas, Katherine (Jake) Moody, Raymond (Kristy) Farrier, Abigael Lucas (Brian Chu), Chancey Gordon (Morgan Mrozinski), Alexander Kime, Chelsea (Ryan) Filhart, Chase Gordon (Heather Bovee), Benjamin Farrier (Maia Gaarder) and Jadyn Sander (Marc Carney); her great-grandchildren Rowen Farrier, Madeline Moody, Rhett Farrier, Nash Filhart, Tate Filhart and Ethan Olson; her bonus grandchildren Ashley & Darrell Boger and bonus great-grandchildren Charlotte & Brexlee Boger; and her sister-in -law Janice Gordon.

In addition to her parents and her husband Charles (d.2004), Esther is predeceased by her grandson Zachary Joseph Gordon Kime (d.2022), her longtime furry four-legged companion, Twix, and all six of her siblings and their spouses.
Funeral services will be held Monday, August 5th at 11:00am at the Coleman Wesleyan Church.
Family and friends may call at the O’Laughlin Funeral Home on Sunday, August 4th from 2:00pm to 6:00pm and at the church on Monday, August 5th starting at 10am until the time of service. Committal service and burial will take place in the Riverlawn Cemetery, Delwin, Michigan.
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In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Esther’s memory to the Coleman Historical Society or to a charity of your choice