Daphene Gordon

F. Daphene (Strain) Gordon, beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother passed away on February 3rd, 2026(84).

Daphene was born in Thayer, Missouri on August 29, 1941 and spent her early years living in the rustic rock house her father, James Walter Strain, built with his own two hands. Daphene was the ninth child born to her mother Ollie Elizabeth Dawson at the surprising age of 48. Being the baby of such a large family, with age differences ranging from 31 to 7 years, she was definitely a caboose, and was doted on by her many adoring siblings. One of her older sisters(Belle) was even considered a surrogate mom, due to the love and influence she provided while Daphene was growing up. This proved to be a great blessing for each of them, since her sister never had any children of her own.

Mom loved her family and always knew she wanted to someday raise a family of her own.

When she met Robert Stanley Gordon in Kansas City, MO on a blind date, she was smitten, and knew she had met the person with whom she wanted to build a family with. Robert and Daphene were married April 1, 1962, and began their life together.

Only two years later, missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints introduced them to the gospel. On March 13th, 1970 in the Idaho Falls Temple, Robert and Daphene with their three children, Stan Gordon(Tomoko) Spring, TX., Beth Freeman(Lonnie), Tremonton, Ut. and Heather Plowman(Doug), North Logan, Ut. were sealed for time and all eternity.

As military families often do, they relocated many times throughout the years. There lifes journey took them from Kansas City, MO., to Traverse City, MI., Argentia, Newfoundland, Savannah, GA., Annette Island, AK., Millington, TN., San Diego, CA., Poway, CA., Hyrum, UT., Logan, UT., San Luis Obispo, CA., Feilding, UT. and their last stop together was back to Logan, UT., where they resided at Legacy House of Logan.

As a military wife, Mom made the best of each new move, situation, and economic challenge that came along, while creating a beautiful, warm and loving home. Mom had a talent or knack for anything crafty or artistic. For many years she created birthday and Christmas gifts for her loved ones that were hand crafted and from the heart.

Childhood photo albums show the volume of clothing made by her well dressed children. Mom was perfectionistic as a seamstress and could sew some of the most complicated patterns, due to some of her children’s activities and interests, not necessarily by choice! Mom was a wonderful cook with all her southern influence, and her fried chicken is legendary. Unfortunately she cooked from her memory and not a recipe, and that’s been hard to duplicate!

While living in Alaska she learned the art of cake decorating from a friend, bought all the necessary tools and set her sights on decorating many beautiful cakes for her friends and loved ones. She actually decorated all three wedding cakes for her children, fully equipped with pillars, tiers, fountains, the whole nine yards.

After moving to Utah Daphene went to work full time at Yeates and Company accounting, and acquired another skill. Mom worked there for 15 years. She considered her coworkers family, and truly valued those relationships.

Daphene loved being a grandma, and cherished the time she had with each of them! She began a Halloween party tradition, that all the grandchildren looked forward to every year…. and to this day, some are still trying to maintain for the next generation.

Up until the end, Daphene, maintained her compassion for others, interest in learning and her sarcastic sense of humor. Our lives were so blessed and touched to have her as our mother. We are so grateful for the caregivers who loved and nursed our mother from legacy house, and enhabit homehealth and hospice. The love and safekeeping you provided were such a blessing to mom, and our whole family.

Daphene is survived by her three children Stan, Beth, and Heather, as well as 10 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. she was preceded in death by her husband Robert Gordon, parents, James and Ollie Strain, five older sisters, and three older brothers. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 on Friday, February 13th @ 1:00pm, at the Nelson Funeral Home, 162 E. 400., Logan, UT. There will be a viewing from 11:30- 12:30 prior to the services. Online condolences may be found at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com under her obituary.