Anita Gorder to be Buried in Deadwood Oak Ridge Cemetery March 23, 2013

TUSCALOOSA, AL  Tom Gorder’s wife Anita Ray Gorder, 74, passed away Friday, March 15, 2013, at DCH Regional Medical Center, near her home in Tuscaloosa.

Anita loved life and will be remembered by all who knew her for her warm, caring, giving nature and for a sense a humor that always brought a smile to those who surrounded her.

Anita was born June 27, 1938, in Harrison, Ohio, was raised in Dayton, Ohio, and before moving to Tuscaloosa in 1997, lived in Middletown, Ohio, for 17 years and Ashland, Ky., for 14 years.

She was an ardent University of Alabama sports enthusiast, an avid Master Gardener and an eager volunteer in a variety of organizations that included her church, Meals on Wheels, PEO International, Paramount Women’s Association and the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra Guild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Pearl McMamaman, and is survived by her husband, C. Tom Gorder of Tuscaloosa; daughters, Susan Miller Barnes (Jeffrey) of Teays Valley, W.V., and Cynthia G. Thomas (Michael) of Deadwood, S.D.; granddaughter, Lauren E. Miller of Lexington, Ky.; grandson, Trevor M. Barnes of Teays Valley; sister, Vera Rowell of Fort Worth, Texas; and brother, Leo McManaman of Dayton, Ohio.

The family celebrates Anita’s ascension into heaven to join her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and invites friends to commemorate her life at a funeral service at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, in the Westervelt-Warner Chapel at First Presbyterian Church, 900 Greensboro, Ave., Tuscaloosa, Ala. 35401, with Dr. Charles Durham officiating. Visitation from noon to 12:45 p.m. will precede the service. Heritage Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, is in charge of arrangements.

She will be laid to rest in Oak Ridge Cemetery in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, which she loved so much. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday March 23, with Fidler Funeral Chapel in Spearfish, S.D., in charge of the graveside services.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations honoring Anita be made to the Parkinson’s Association of Alabama, PO Box 590146, Birmingham, AL 35259.

Condolences may be offered at www.heritagechapeltuscaloosa.com.

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Thanks to Margaret Crary Sager and Bill Beshara for dhsclassmates support and contributions.