Jean Lamont Davidson Gordon

Longtime northern Delaware resident and beloved wife and mother Jean Davidson Gordon passed away in her sleep the morning of February 3 at the age of 96. Jean was the daughter of Colonel John Davidson and Elizabeth Treyz Davidson, and is survived by her son John Davidson Gordon of Watertown MA, and daughters Kathryn Allison Greenwood of Churchville PA, Teren Gordon MacLeod of Port Townsend WA, and Elizabeth Ann Michaels of Seattle WA.

Jean was born in Honolulu, HI and moved regularly in her formative years with her father, in charge of various military bases in California and Alaska, mother, and older daughter Cheryl. Both Cheryl and Jean attended the University of Michigan in the 1940’s, where Jean was the #2 skeet shooter on campus, bested only by her older sister. She earned a degree in Chemistry and was published for her work in the field. There she met her husband of 64 years, William Charles Gordon, and married in 1947. After some time in New York City where oldest children John, Kathryn and Teren were born, the family moved to Delaware in 1956, where youngest daughter Elizabeth was born.

In 1961 the family moved to the Wilmington address of 4905 Lancaster Pike, where they lived for 30 years. Jean was often seen accompanying her children at the Tatnall pool, playing tennis at Greenville, or watching her children play various sports at Tatnall and A. I. DuPont high schools.

In 1991 Jean and Bill moved to Cokesbury Village in Hockessin, where Jean has resided ever since. Early in that 30 year span she supported Bill’s triathlon endeavors, which took them to Hawaii six times, to the Netherlands, and to New Zealand. Jean would always find time to play piano for Cokesbury’s Health Care residents, and for over two decades was responsible for recognition of Cokesbury’s veterans. As a daughter of an Army colonel Jean never lost sight of our country’s role in world affairs.

A person with an eager smile and a willingness to make new friends and the best of every situation, Jean will be missed for her kindness toward all people regardless of their station, her quick wit and readiness to tell a joke, to smile, and to laugh.