Corliss Ella Gordon, 99, passed away unexpectedly from COVID Variant complications on Sunday night, Oct. 17, 2021. She was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, the daughter and tenth child of William and Edith Barber. After graduating as the salutatorian of her 1940 high school class, Corliss became a lifelong resident of Aberdeen and lived on 7th Street for over 60 years. Corliss was the last of her familial generation and was preceded in death by her parents and her nine brothers and sisters.

Corliss married Einar Gordon, a Hoquiam grad of 1927, in October of 1942. She is survived by her son William (Lynda), daughter Katie (Randy), daughter Mary Louise (Cheryl), her grandchildren Andrew, Paul, Sally and Peter, and by her great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Einar, son Patrick and his spouse Jill, and her dear Elizabeth. She was also preceded by her dogs and by her many cats, most named Henry.

Corliss was a lifelong member of the Aberdeen First Presbyterian Church where she taught her children’s Sunday school classes, was a member of the choral and hand bell choirs, and was also a Deaconess. Corliss loved her church, the coffee hour after church, and the multitude of friends she made through her church. Corliss made going to church fun. She was comfortable in any church, temple, cathedral or shrine and was always interested in learning about other religions and cultures — a gift she passed on to her children.

Corliss was actively involved in the education of her children and was presented with the Golden Acorn Award by the McDermoth Elementary PTA for her devotion to area children and youth. Corliss was also a Girl Scout leader to dozens of girls from the Harbor.

Corliss was a decade’s long season ticketholder to the Seattle Repertory Theater with lifelong friends Raeburn Hagen, Jane Waller and Betty Charette. Corliss attended the Ashland Shakespearean Festival faithfully for decades. For many years, she enjoyed band, orchestra and choral concerts at Miller Auditorium with her dear friend Doris Daneker. Corliss taught her kids to appreciate and participate in the arts and took them all to the ballet, concerts, plays and musicals while they were still sitting in her lap.

Corliss’ employment career began as a bookkeeper for Wolff’s Clothing Store and continued as an aide at McDermoth Elementary, a secretary at Bay City Fuel, Foster & Marshall Stock Brokerage and Piper Jaffray until retiring in 1991.

Corliss was a member of PEO, Book Review Club and Investment Club. Her investment club was chosen as the model investment club in the state of Washington. Corliss provided book reviews at the library into her nineties.

Corliss was a woman ahead of her generation who provided financial security for her family and believed in lifelong learning.