OBITUARY
GORDON SIDNEY STARK (F.C.A.)
1923 – 2013
It is with profound sadness that the family of Gordon Sidney
Stark, recently of Surrey BC and former long-time resident of
Swift Current SK, announces he passed away peacefully at the
age of 89 on June 21, 2013 at Peace Arch Hospital in White
Rock. He was surrounded by several of his children and
grandchildren during his brief and sudden illness.
Gordon was born in Calgary, AB in 1923, the elder child of a
Scottish florist. He grew up in modest surroundings during The
Great Depression, graduating from Calgary’s Crescent Heights
High School at age 15. Young Gordon excelled in science, was
fascinated by electronics, and always wanted to become an
electrical engineer. As a teenager, he was a Flight Sergeant in
air cadets, a Sergeant in the reserve army and later joined the
Royal Canadian Air Force.
Not having the money to pursue his dream profession, Gord
applied and was accepted in a chartered accountant (CA) articling
program working for C.P. McIntosh in Calgary and was awarded
the provincial silver medal for the highest standing in the
intermediate CA examinations. He was admitted to the Institute of
Chartered Accountants of Alberta in 1947 and was awarded a Life
Membership in 1987 in recognition of 40 years of distinguished
service to the CA profession.
Gordon met Bette Appleton, his wife of 61 years, at a roller skating
rink during World War II and in 1945 they were married. In 1947
they moved to Swift Current SK and, after acting as comptroller
with Canadian Cooperative Processors Ltd., Gordon entered
private practice with the CA firm Hesford, Wik & Jeffrey – renamed
Hesford, Wik, Jeffrey & Stark when he became partner. In his
practice, Gordon was known for taking a carload of articling
students with him when he travelled throughout southwest
Saskatchewan conducting audits for municipalities and hospitals.
Bette waited anxiously for him to return home safely on many
stormy winter nights.
The Starks soon settled into the community, raising five children and establishing many close
friendships in Swift Current over 42 years. Gord’s parents, Sandy and Connie, eventually joined
the family in Swift Current as owners of Stark Floral, later semi-retiring and running the
Elmwood Golf Course pro shop and cafeteria. Feeding his interests in architecture and
engineering, Gordon designed several family homes and on one occasion was so determined to
obtain the perfect lot that he slept overnight in a lawn chair outside City Hall to be first in line.
Gordon was years ahead of his time when it came to understanding the use and application of
computers. His interest, skills and forward thinking led the firm to be linked to computers in
Chicago and later Edmonton and Winnipeg in the mid to late 1950s in order to serve their clients
better. By the early 1960s, the firm had its own room-sized computer and Gord became heavily
involved in developing computer accounting programs and teaching computer courses.
Awarded his distinguished Fellow designation (FCA) by the Institute of Chartered Accountants
of Saskatchewan, Gordon was recognized by his peers and colleagues for his extensive
community involvement and for his commitment to the profession, notably for his term as
president of the Saskatchewan Institute Council. Leaving a legacy of service to his community,
Gordon worked very hard to establish Cypress Hills Community College as the board’s founding
chair. He was appointed by the provincial government to the Universities Commission which
acted as a liaison between the province’s universities and the government in matters related to
funding. He was chair of the Swift Current Housing Authority for many years and president of
the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club and Elmwood Golf Club. He was also very involved
with Frontier Days and the Liberal Party.
Tall, slender, and athletic, Gordie, as he was known by golf buddies, had a beautiful natural golf
swing. A low handicap golfer and competitive curler, he spent many hours at the golf course
and curling rink where he made some of his closest friends and won many trophies. One of his
special achievements was winning the Elks Corby Cup national curling championship. Gord
enjoyed relaxing with family and friends at the family’s cottages at Cypress Hills and Lac
Pelletier.
After retiring as senior partner with Stark & Company, Gordon and Bette moved to Vernon BC in
1989 where he was closer to his sister Barbara. He continued his passion for computers and
golfed and curled for several years with new friends. Following Bette’s death in 2007, he moved
to Kelowna, BC and then Surrey, BC to be closer to family.
Gordon was a reserved man of few words who
embodied the best Scottish values of honesty,
modesty, and hard work. He loved his family
dearly and devoted much of his life to being a
good provider. His wife, children and
grandchildren had an enormous amount of
respect and admiration for him. In his children
he instilled a strong sense of personal
integrity, work ethic, lifelong learning, and
excellence. A stickler for proper English, he
demanded all his children speak well – heaven
forbid that anyone end a sentence with a
preposition! Until the end of his days, Gordon
had an active and inquiring mind, was keenly
interested in current events, displayed a
wonderful wry sense of humour, was frugal to
a fault, loved his music, and could nap sitting
up any time any place. He will always be
remembered for his intellect, kind and gentle
nature, almost obsessive love of chocolate,
and being late for pretty much everything. His children feel so proud and blessed to have had
him as a father and role model and will forever treasure their memories of him.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the doctors and nurses at Peace
Arch Hospital in White Rock for the gentle care they gave to Gordon and his family during his
short stay and to the caring staff at Crescent Gardens and Missionwood Retirement Homes
where he lived independently for several years before his death. Cremation has taken place
with arrangements entrusted to Wiebe & Jeske Burial & Cremation Care Providers. A memorial
celebration of life will be held at a later date. Condolences and favourite memories of Gordon
sent by email to jenn.stark (at) shaw.ca will be forwarded to the family.
(Written by Jennifer Stark)
