Gordon D. Ayers

Ridgeway - Gordon D. Ayers, age 82, of Ridgeway, passed away Wednesday October 17, 2012 at Bloomfield Manor in Dodgeville. Gordon was born on August 7, 1930 in Gratiot WI to William and Agnes Ayers. Gordon always said he wasn't going to die until the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, but the good Lord said the world wasn't going to last that long. Gordon attended school in Gratiot where he graduated from high school in 1948. In his sophomore year he asked a pretty blond girl to go to the prom and they have been a pair ever since. Gordon and Bonnie were married in 1952 and spent their life together for over 56 years until Bonnie's death in 2010. After graduation Gordon worked for the Road Dept of Lafayette County for 2 years. He enlisted in the Army during the Korean War and served 3 years in the 11th Airborne Division as a paratrooper and made 26 parachute jumps. He was injured on his 26th jump and spent 6 weeks in the hospital. They lived on base in Clarksville TN which was 6 miles from Ft. Campbell. He loved the Army but they decided the army was not the place to raise a family so he took an honorable discharge in 1953. They moved to Rockford IL where Gordon worked for GE Credit Co. They decided that city life was not for them so they moved to Ridgeway and he worked for Ayers Furniture for 35 years until 1992. After retirement Gordon delivered Meals on Wheels for the elderly for the next 9 years. They have 5 children Mike (Jeanne) Ayers, Bill (Cheryl) Ayers, Tom (Maria) Ayers, Rae Ann (Sudzy Hendrickson) Dougherty, Julie (Ken) Toay; 15 grandchildren, Ryan and Shane Ayers, Riley, Hailey, Michael and Matthew Ayers, Nick, Abby and Jacob Ayers, Derek Dougherty, Brantley Hendrickson, KayCee and Dustin Toay. Gordon was proceed in death by his wife, Bonnie, on January 22, 2010, his parents and 3 brothers, Laverne (as a child), Bill and Roy, 2 sisters, Ardale and Joyce (both in early childhood), 2 infant grandchildren Jon Michael and Kim Marie Ayers. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at ST. BRIDGET'S CATHOLIC CHURCH in Ridgeway. Fr. Sanctus Ibe will officiate. Inurnment will be held in St. Bridget's Cemetery, with Military Graveside Rites accorded by the Ridgeway American Legion. Friends may call from 11:00 a.m. until time of Mass on Saturday at the church. Gordon loved the Chicago Cubs and the American Flag – which he had flying in his front, back yard and windows of his car. The flags were to honor all his friends who were killed in the Korean War. Gordon was very proud of his Irish heritage always telling his kids and grandkids that him and them were 100% Irish (which we believed for years). We are sure he is singing those famous Irish songs in heaven right now.

Gordon D. Ayers

August 7, 1930 - October 17, 2012