Gordon Mckerrow

Gordon Andrew McKerrow, 67, a retired farmer in the Floweree area, died suddenly at his home from injuries due to a fall on Tuesday, December 10, 2013.A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 16, 2013 at Central Christian Church. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Gordon was born in Great Falls on May 21, 1946 to Robert A. McKerrow and Bernice A. (Moore) McKerrow. He was raised on the family farm north of Great Falls. The family also had a house in town, purchased so the children could attend Great Falls schools. Summers were spent on the farm, where Gordon worked with his dad producing wheat and barley.Gordon married his teenage sweetheart, Kathleen Williams in Kalispell on December 22, 1968. They were blessed with three children, Brett, who died at age 5 months, Summer and Andrew.Gordon graduated from Great Falls High School in 1964 and Montana State University in 1968 with a Bachelors degree in Agricultural Education. He spent his life as owner/operator of a dryland farm north of Great Falls in Chouteau County. He taught vocational agriculture and industrial arts for short periods at Malta High School and at Fairfield High School.Gordon gave his life to community service. He was an active member of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Great Falls, and served there as board chair, elder, committee chair, and choir member. He also served as a leader in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Montana as board moderator and member of many committees. Gordon participated on the board of Montana Ministries in High Education, an ecumenical campus ministry organization.Gordon served as a member and chair of the school board for Benton Lake School for a number of years. He served on the Chouteau County Planning Board. Gordon was actively involved in the Chouteau County Farm Bureau from the time he was a young man and served as president of their board of directors. Gordon served two terms as a member of the Montana Farm Bureau Federal board of directors and the Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance board of directors. He served many years as a member of the Montana Farm Bureau policy development committee.A highlight of Gordons life was the opportunity to be a member of the second class of Leadership Montana. The people he met there and the lessons he learned were life-changing.Gordon was a family man. He loved and cared for his wife, children and his precious grandchildren in tender and supportive ways.Gordon is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Kathy; children Summer of Floweree and Andrew (Haley Hayes) of Portland, OR; five precious grandchildren, Gracie Mae McKerrow, Alexandra McKerrow, Jennifer Kylie Pfleger, Arlo Hayes and Elliot Hayes; brother Glenn A. (Lea) McKerrow of Great Falls; sister-in-law Carol McKerrow (Don Harriott) of Helena; nieces and nephews, Mike (Julie) McKerrow of Eugene, OR, Jim (Anissa) Ferguson of Bottineau, ND, Jeff (Cindy) Ferguson of Spokane, WA, Joel Ferguson of Washougal, WA, Kim Reed (Claire Jones) of New York City, NY, and Todd McKerrow of San Diego, CA; and a host of friends.He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Bernice McKerrow; son Brett Andrew; brother Loren E. McKerrow; sister Kathleen A. Ferguson; nephew Marc A. McKerrow; and niece Susan J. Fuentez.Memorial gifts may be made to Central Christian Church, 1025 Central Ave, Great Falls, MT 59401 or Benefis Senior Care Center Life Enrichment, 2621 15th Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405.