- Date Of Birth: August 10, 1925
- Date Of Death: May 17, 2011
- State: Arizona
Celebrating the magnificent life of Gordon Shea (1925-2011) affectionately known as Gordie, Pops and Pappa.
Gordon was born August 10, 1925 in Lanigan, Saskatchewan to Herb and Ethel Shea. Gordon had five brothers and four sisters.
Gordon joined the Royal Canadian Navy in February 1944 to serve with his three brothers during WW2. Gordon completed a 4 month course at H.M.C.S. Cornwallis, Nova Scotia then onto CFB Stadacona in Halifax. Gordon shipped out as an anti aircraft gunner on The Savage Destroyer Q-081, a fairmile motor launch that was sunk, and he was then moved to the H.M.C.S Algonquin which was involved in the D-Day attacks.
A few quotes from shipmates:
Hi Guns, May your stay on 081 be long & merry & full of fun because you the best guns we have had -Pee-Wee
Dear Gord: We’ll hitch old Adams to the Shea and we’ell head like fury to the saskatoon brewery in the good old summer time Bill Adams HMCS Algonquin Trindad 10/13/1945.
Following the war Gordon worked along side his Dad at Maddock’s Farm in Victoria, BC (Canada). Gordon then started Bar S Ranch in Victoria, B.C. training horses and ponies with his wife Lila. His children Susan, Shelley and Michael were born in Victoria.
In 1960 Gordon answered an advertisement for a horse trainer position in Tucson, Arizona, and went there to train Fox Trotters. He loved the lifestyle in Arizona, and soon returned to Canada to commence formal immigration procedures. Doug and Pat White sponsored the entire family to relocate from British Columbia, Canada to Tucson, Arizona in 1962. Gordon put his heart and soul into the horse world, training all breeds of horses, building arenas, and hosting gymkhanas, roping, cutting and cowboy polo and rodeos. He participated in many re-enactments, parades and some movies in Old Tucson. Gordon trained trotting ponies, twelve white mules to drive for a movie, quarter horses, Arabians, and a buffalo to ride, he loved all breeds. He rescued many horses and ponies from the slaughterhouse, providing a second chance at life for many.
In 1966 Gordon moved his family to Scottsdale, accepting a position working for Clays Arabians.
