Gordon Eller

Dr. Gordon Wayne "Doc" Eller, 77, of Cape Girardeau passed away Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, in Colorado.

He was born March 17, 1942, in Beloit, Kansas, to the late Rev. George and Luella Eller. Gordon fell in love with his eighth-grade sweetheart after he learned she was his lucky charm at his end-of-the-season baseball party. He then married, Dorothy "Ann" Hauck on June 7, 1965. They happily celebrated 50 years of marriage with family and friends in 2015.

Gordon was a 1960 graduate of Beloit High School, he attended Midland College-Fremont and graduated from Bethany College-Lindsborg, Kansas, in 1964. He graduated with his medical degree from the University of Kansas, School of Medicine, interned at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, and fulfilled his orthopedic residency requirements at Dixon Dively Orthopedic Group in Kansas City. Gordon shared a partnership at Orthopedics Associates in Cape Girardeau from October of 1975 until May of 2002.

He served in the Missouri Air National Guard as a captain from 1974 to 1978. His interests and hobbies included fishing, telling jokes, helping people, teasing and tennis, and he enjoyed spending time in the dirt, planting flowers and other plants.

Gordon had a passion for healing and growing. His love of growing things prompted his side business, Garden Hill Nursery. He was able to combine his love of plants and helping people into this adventure.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy "Ann" of Cape Girardeau; children, Vicki Marie (Lance) Callaway of St. Louis, Marci Diane (Art) Pancoast of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Julie Anne Eller of Cape Girardeau and Carrie Lynn Wunderlich of St. Louis; grandchildren, Victoria Pancoast, Emily Pancoast, Gordon Pancoast, Landon Callaway, Jesse Becker, Keagan Wunderlich and Coen Wunderlich; sisters, Ruth Bell and Janet Specht, both of Beloit, Kansas; 10 nieces and nephews; and 12 grandnieces and -nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Shari Lynne; sister, Joann Norris; and nephew, Mike Norris.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

Celebration of life service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. John Dehne officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Adult and Teen Challenge Mid-America, Southeast Hospital's Nurses Scholarship or Zion Lutheran Church in Beloit.

Online condolences may be shared at www.fordandsonsfueralhome.com