Betty Louise (Payne) Gordon passed away on June 24th, 2025 at her home in Pueblo, CO. She was born in Collbran, CO on April 5th, 1943 to Basil Alton Payne and Dorothy May (Cox) Payne. Betty grew up in DeBeque, CO along with her older brother Carl Payne. Betty was a Baton Twirler starting at a young age and continuing through High School for DeBeque H S. She spent a great deal of time out on the mesa at her Grandparent’s Cox ranch. She graduated from DeBeque High School on May 25, 1961 and married Oatman (Skip) Leaton Gordon on May 26, 1961, and gained a stepson, Kurt Gordon. Betty and Skip bought the house he grew up in from his parents Dorothy and Clem Moreland. They started their life together at 1181 Main Street in Minturn, CO.

Betty took in ironing and sewing and helped at her in-laws Phillips 66 gas station. Melody Jane was born July 5, 1962 followed by Brent Leaton on April 29, 1964. Vail opened in 1962 creating more jobs, Betty worked as head housekeeper at The Lodge of Vail and Manor Vail. She then had an opportunity to be the first employee for Jack Fritzlen, who developed the speed gun and breath intoxicator for the police. She worked from the ground up and ended up as the purchasing agent. Many happy years were spent at CMI.

When Skip started the bus system in Vail, Betty figured out all the bus schedules and employee schedules, making sure employees had time to ski every day. She was also pitcher for the town of Vail softball team and took them to the state finals. Over the years, many wonderful meals were made by Betty. She cooked for celebrities, dignitaries, and lots of friends. Her hospitality and down-home cooking was always a big hit with wild meat being her specialty. Each grandchild has their favorite “grandma dish” that she would always have prepared when they visited.

On Valentine’s Day, Betty made each child in Melody and Brents classes a special heart shaped cookie with frosting, decorations and their names on it. Soon she was making cookies for the whole grade level because the kids loved them so much and she couldn’t leave anyone out. She never missed a field trip or any activity her kids were involved in, including both home and away sporting events.

Betty loved to crochet and made hundreds of Afghans. If you knew her you had your own Afghan. Quilts were another specialty, and many children and adults have loved those blankets until they were just rags.

Betty and Skip retired to 11 Mile Reservoir and enjoyed many years of fishing and traveling across the US in their fifth wheel spending winters down south. They had lots of adventures and made many lifelong friends along the way. Betty was a savant with maps, just tell her where you were and a destination and she had the directions, even correcting Siri. Whether we called her Mom, Grandma or Grandma Granny, we knew she loved us unconditionally with all her heart. Betty’s kindness and can-do attitude will be missed!

Betty is survived by her husband of 64 years Skip Gordon of Pueblo, CO, Melody McClelland (John) of Holcomb, KS, Brent Gordon (Shari) of Yuma, CO, Kurt Gordon (Lyn, Deceased) of Dubois, Wy, and her brother Carl Payne (Mary) of Danville, PA.

Grandchildren Leaton McClelland (Brittany) of Pueblo, CO, Johna Norton (David) of Gothenburg, NE, Melissa Staley (Nathan) of Kansas City, MO, Josh Gordon (Abigail) of Garden City, KS, Jacob Gordon (Kayla) of Yuma, CO, Nicolas Gordon (Heather) of Minneapolis, MN, Amy and Lily Gordon of Minneapolis, MN.

Great Grandchildren, Micah and Samsen Staley, Jenny and David Gordon, Ophelia and Odette Gordon.

Spreading of Betty’s ashes will be at a later date by her family. Memorials may be given to First Southern Baptist Church Youth Ministry in care of Pastor Josh Gordon 2708 N 3rd St. Garden City, KS 67846.