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Carl Edwin Gammon died a peaceful death in the presence of his family Tuesday, June 29, 2004. Carl, born in Geuda Springs, Kansas November 29, 1910, was a man respected by all who knew him as a leader in his church, his community, and his family. A man of quick wit, piercing intellect, and boundless physical strength, Carl lived an exemplary life of honor and good works, always living life to the very fullest whatever the challenges that faced him. When but a boy of 12, Carl helped his father, W.T. Gammon, load two horse-drawn wagons with all their family's possessions and embarked on a cross-country journey to their new home in Watonga, Oklahoma. Carl's mother, Clara and his 6 siblings made the journey quickly by Model-T, while Carl and his father followed a more difficult route, taking five days to travel just over 150 miles. This trip, following a map that Carl boasted his father had drawn from memory, was a defining journey for the young man who, as a master story-teller in his later years, told stories of his faithful mule Jumbo drawing crowds of children with her antics when they passed through towns along their way, and of how he overcame his own fears to help his father ford the raging Canadian River to deliver the precious load. W.T. crossed with his wagon first and then talked Carl across. Carl might have felt like a scared 12-year-old boy, but he knew his family was depending on him to complete a man's task, so he plunged across the freezing river, full from a recent rain. In Watonga, Carl met, pursued, and eventually married the girl he knew he was destined to spend his life with, Violette Pearl Gose Gammon, and with her raised two children, a son, Roger, and a daughter, Linda. In Ames, Oklahoma, the pair built a home, ran a successful farm and ranch, helped found the local farm cooperative, actively built fellowships at their local Disciples of Christ Church (serving as representatives at the World Disciples of Christ Congress in Australia), participated in local and state politics (Carl serving as a Republican Delegate to the state Convention), traveled around the world twice, and after 55 years of hard work, retired to Albuquerque, NM. Always a hard worker, Carl did not sit back and rest, but once in NM became an active part of his new church community at Monte Vista Christian Church, continued to travel, and turned the plentiful NM sun into gardens of splendor until he was 90 years old. When Violette passed away after 58 years of marriage, Carl was fortunate to find love again and married Dora Tweedy Gammon who would be his devoted companion for the remainder of his life. He often remarked how blessed he was to have had two wonderful women in his life when many people never find even one. Carl is survived by Dora Tweedy Gammon, his loving wife of 11 years; son, Roger and Sue Gammon of Arizona; daughter, Linda and Billy Thorne of Albuquerque; step-daughter, Lesa and Allen Sprinkle of Albuquerque; step-son, Gary Medcalf of Washington; six grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Hicks; and a large extended family in Oklahoma. He will be missed by all who loved him. Services will be held Friday, July 2, 2004 at 11:00 a.m., at Monte Vista Christian Church, 3501 Campus Blvd. NE, with Dr. Michelle Tatlock officiating. Interment will take place in Oklahoma. Friends may visit French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel, Thursday, July 1, 2004 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family request contributions be made to Monte Vista Christian Church, 3501 Campus Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE 843-6333
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