08/01/2020
Kathy Lee Gordon was born at Collins Memorial Hospital in Knoxville, Iowa on November 12, 1954.
She was the third of four children that were born to Marian Marlene (Vander Heiden) and John Gordon, Jr. Kathy graduated from Knoxville High School with the Class of 1973. She then enrolled at Indian Hills Community in Ottumwa, Iowa where she studied culinary arts and later pursued her cooking and baking skills.
Kathy and Gary Ballard gave birth to their daughter, Sarah Ballard on August 6, 1977. She and her daughter, Sarah, lived in Des Moines, Harvey and Amana, Iowa until moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1996. Kathy worked in the Amana Colonies at two bakeries, the meat market and had a hand in helping build the Amana golf course. She also had her own business as a limo driver in Cedar Rapids until her health no longer permitted, she was working at Panera Bread in Iowa City, Iowa.
Kathy was always a hard worker but loved to have fun and laugh.
On Saturday morning, August 1, 2020, at the age of 65 years she passed away shortly after arriving at the Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha, Iowa.
Kathy is survived by her daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Mark McLaughlin of Columbia, South Carolina; her significant other, Tom Mattes of Amana, IA; her father, John Gordon, of Harvey, Iowa; her sister, Sue and Marvin Ver Meer of Harvey, brother, Kelly Gordon and Lori of Tracy, Iowa, sister, Misty Gordon of Harvey; and several nieces and nephews.
Kathy was preceded in death by her mother, Marian Gordon, on June 4, 2010. Kathy was a very giving person, always ready and willing to help other people.
Memorial Service will be held Thursday, August 6, 2020, 1:00 pm, Breckenridge Cemetery, Knoxville, Iowa.
Memorial contributions are preferred for the Marion County Humane Society in lieu of flowers.