Mary Jo (Mcmullen) Gorden

A celebration of the life of Mary Jo McMullen Gorden, 68, of Lufkin will be held Saturday, October 31, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of Christ Congregational Church, 105 Saddle Creek Drive, Lufkin, Texas. The Reverend Randall K. Green will officiate.

Mary Jo was born June 27, 1947, in Lufkin, Texas, to the late Jack Otto and Cynthia Faye (Beddingfield) McMullen and died Wednesday, October 28, 2015 in Lufkin.

Mary Jo was a sixth generation Lufkinite. She was a charter member of Christ Congregational Church. She demonstrated her zest for life and desire to serve by being an important part of Buckner Family Center, The Mosaic Center, Downtown Arts Center, Angelina County Historical Center and other organizations. She taught Childhood Development at Angelina College. As “Mrs. Mayor” she was influential in the restoration of the Pines Theater and the rebirth of downtown Lufkin.

Survivors include her husband and high school sweetheart, Jack Gorden, Jr. of Lufkin; son and daughter-in-law, Trey and Laura Gorden of West Lafayette, Indiana; brother and sister-in-law, David and Gina McMullen of Boise, Idaho; granddaughter, and the apple of her eye, Addie Elizabeth Gorden; nieces and nephews, Beverly Moore, Carolyn Wiegand, Meredith McMullen Smith, Zach McMullen, Brianna McMullen, and Jacob McMullen; also, a number of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by son, Trenton Wood Gorden; brother, Jack O. “Butch” McMullen, Jr. and sister-in-law, Sheila McMullen.

Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Poland, Travis Taylor, Paul Abney, Don Wier, Ron Jackson, Al Meyer, Jay Shands, Bill Ricks, Rodney Moore, Wes Suiter, Randy Alexander, Robert Shankle, Jim Kennedy, Joe Loving, Harold Estes, Tommy Deaton, Gary Looper, Duncan Garner, Richard Rainwater and Malcom McKinley.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ Congregational Church, P.O. Box 27, Lufkin, Texas 75902 or Hospice in the Pines, 1504 W. Frank Avenue, Lufkin, Texas 75904.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.
Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.