Gordon Eccles

   Homer Gordon Eccles, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many, passed away peacefully at his home in Boise, Idaho on Sunday, July 27th, 2025 with his devoted wife, Cheryl Eccles at his bedside.             

Gordon, as he was known to all, began his life journey in Baker, Oregon; born the son of Ruth Marion Rippey Eccles (later Purdy) and Homer Gordon Eccles Sr. Ruth was the only daughter of Clark and Lottie Rippey of Baker, and Homer was the son of David and Bertha Eccles of Ogden, Utah. After the divorce of Ruth and Homer, little Gordie was raised by Ruth with the help of her parents, Clark and Lottie (“Wattie” as young Gordie called her.) Gordon treasured his grandparents and lived his life as an example to them both. Ruth, with her little boy, eventually moved to Boise where she worked at the Boise Hotel. Gordon also became employed there as an adorable page boy. The Boise Hotel is where Ruth later met Leonard N. “Bud” Purdy. The subsequent marriage landed Ruth and her son in Picabo, Idaho where Gordon was blessed with three additional siblings, Nick, Kris, and Mark. Gordon had the opportunity to learn the ranch life and finish his childhood in the wide open spaces and beauty of Picabo, Silver Creek and the K-K Ranch.

 After graduating from Hailey High in 1956, Gordon attended the University of Idaho. He majored in Agricultural Engineering and finished his degree in 1960. While at the U of I, he was an active and proud member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. His brother, Nick, later joined him there as a fraternity brother. Upon returning to Picabo after college, Gordon became part owner and full time manager of the family owned business, Silver Creek Supply. During all the years Gordon managed the business, Silver Creek Supply was a huge operation. The store sold everything from groceries, to paint, to lumber. There was a Philips 66 gas business, a full garage and automotive business, and the grain elevator operation. He was once interviewed by the Idaho Press who asked him, “Is there anything you don’t sell?” Gordon replied, with a grin, "Yes. We don’t sell cars.” A General Store with Everything -in the Middle of Nowhere – Tim Woodward.

In 1964, Gordon was blessed with his first and only daughter, Ruth Helen Eccles. His marriage to Ruth’s mother, Ardis Schrik, was short lived, but Gordon cherished his daughter and retained full custody of his baby girl. In 1966, he married Elizabeth Ann Peavey (Betty), daughter of Arthur Jacob Peavey and Mary Thomas Peavey Brooks, who served as Director of the United States Mint under Presidents Nixon and Ford. In 1967 Gordon and Betty joyfully announced the birth of son Arthur Jacob and then another son, Clark Gordon in 1968. (The two boys later followed in their dad’s footsteps and became proud SAE’s at the University of Idaho.) The family lived on the banks of Silver Creek, next door to Ruth and Bud, until 1992 when Gordon and Betty sold their home and business interests following the devastating grain elevator fire in1991. They then moved to Seattle to be near their grown children. Missing their Idaho roots, they returned to McCall after 6 years. After many happy years together, Gordon lost his dear wife in June of 2004. After two years of grieving and loneliness, he met and married the 2nd love of his life, Cheryl Marie Buttram, daughter of Hatch and Gladys Buttram of Hailey. The two were wed in January of 2007. Cheryl had also attended Hailey High with Gordon’s siblings, Kris and Mark Purdy. The two enjoyed life in Valley County for several years before too many months of snow prompted a move to the flat lands, as he called Boise.

In his younger years, Gordon was an avid pilot. He flew a Cherokee 235 - “8877Whiskey”. He would fly the family to vacations in Las Vegas, weekend getaways in the Sawtooth's to Petitt Lake, and even to Moscow to drop off Ruth at U of I. Piloting was his passion, and he was an expert. Ruth remembers flying to school one year in which her dad prompted her to “look for land” as they flew into a major cloud bank. Despite having lost all visibility, Gordon never lost his cool. While he flew by sight and not instruments, he knew exactly where he was at any given moment. The normal 2 hour trip took 4 hours, but he got her to school safely and with a great story to share.

Gordon was also a prized snow mobiler. Many races were won during the 70’s, and his Picabo home was lined with trophies. He and Betty, along with many friends, would spend weekends snowmobiling together; even adventuring over Pettit Lake when the lake was frozen over. Gordon also enjoyed motorcycles. His children fondly remember a childhood of motorbiking with dad on the weekends. When they were little, he would have all three on his bike. Ruthy infront, the two boys on the back, and away they’d go. Gordon also enjoyed years of skiing onBald Mountain, while tennis was his love in the warmer months. He worked hard 6 days a week, but found time to play hard as well.

Gordon was always known as a man of service. After college, he served 6 years in the Army National Guard as a guardsman reservist. He moved up the ranks quickly and upon his discharge was an SSG E6 Staff Sergeant and a carbine expert. (He was never called to active duty, but due to his service, he was honored with a military send off, at his home, when he passed away.) Search and Rescue was also on his list, and there were many instances of a lost snowmobiler or other emergency where Gordon would jump into action. His daughter remembers a CB in his truck for just such occasions. His handle was affectionately known as “Grocery Boy” because of his management of the general store in Picabo.

His service also extended into politics where he was actively and proudly involved in the Republican party, first in Blaine County and later in Valley County. In 1962, he was on the Presidential Nominating Committee representing Idaho. He served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention and was even invited by the Inaugural Committee to attend the inauguration of President Nixon and VP Spiro Agnew. While in Valley County, he held several offices with the Republican party and even served on a committee to help rewrite Idaho bylaws, a job most of us would find tedious and dry, but Gordon, a detail man, found fascinating and worthwhile. Even his first date with Cheryl was at a political event. He and Cheryl, along with brother Nick, and sister-in-law, Sharon Purdy, attended a speaking engagement of President George W. Bush at the Idaho Center. Military personnel and Republican Party workers were invited. What a first date that was! That likely sealed the deal right then and there for Cheryl.

In later years, after he had retired, Gordon served as a Census worker in Valley County. He enjoyed meeting new people, and going door to door to gather Census data was right up his alley. Helping people was always at the forefront of his mind. If he saw a broken down motorist on the side of the road, he would stop, regardless of any inconvenience to him, even if that motorist was on the other side of the freeway going in the opposite direction! Cheryl recalls a moment when they first moved to McCall. Employees of May Hardware were loading up boxes to move to a new location in town. Gordon pulled over, jumped out of his vehicle and began assisting without as much as an introduction. After that, he frequented the store and became on a first name basis with the business owners. The same could be true of his bank teller, insurance agent, and pharmacist. Gordon took the small town friendliness he learned in Picabo and applied it wherever he went.

Gordon was nothing if not a sports enthusiast, enjoying football, basketball, and Nascar. His favorite team of all time was the Green Bay Packers. He and Betty even sported the infamous "cheese heads” for many televised games. Gordon was a Green Bay die hard starting wayback in his U of I years when the Vandal player, Jerry Kramer, joined the Packers. Gordon never waned in his loyalty for his team, and to this day, the walls of his home office are donned with Packer paraphernalia. He even “owned” a tiny share of the Packers that he paid $100 for, a point of pride he would brag to his grandchildren about. Gordon shared his love of football with his sons and grandson who are NOT Greenbay fans, but chose instead Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, and Seattle Seahawks. Gordon never let that bother him, but embraced the rivalries and shared many a bet with his boys. He was always having to pay or collect $5 from one or another of them for a win or a loss.

 Gordon was a devoted family man, pouring his retired life into helping both his sons with their individual businesses. He was someone his kids often turned to for advice and guidance, and was generous to a fault. The most heartbreaking time in Gordon’s life came when he lost his son, Art, in 2018. Despite this tremendous loss, his love and devotion to his two remaining children remained steadfast. He extended that dedication and fondness to his grandchildren as well, taking them boating on Lake Payette, snowmobiling over the holidays, or just tossing a football around. His sense of humor was always at the forefront even to the end. Gordon knew how to tease and take a joke. Back in the days of early email, he was known to “forward” jokes to his friends on a regular basis. His smile was wide and his hugs and handshakes were genuine. He always used to say, “If I fall off a bar stool one day…..” Well, he has finally “fallen off his barstool” and will be missed more than words can say.

 Gordon is survived by his loving wife, Cheryl (Buttram) Eccles, his daughter and son in law, Ruth and Clay Hall, his son, Clark Eccles, his grandchildren, Elijah and Ariana Hall and Makena Eccles, and his siblings, Nick (Sharon) Purdy, Mark Purdy, and Kris Wenslawski, as well as multitudes of nieces and nephews. His life will be celebrated in Picabo at his parents’ home(Bud and Ruth Purdy) on September 13th.