On Saturday, August 18, Gordon (Gordy) Dean Gault, 47, of Spring Hill, Kan., died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Visitation will be held Friday, August 24, at Floral Hills Funeral Home, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, Mo., from 6-8 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 25, at the Overland Park Church of Christ, 13400 W. 119th St. (W. 119th and Pflumm) at 1:30 p.m. Gordy is the son of Tom and Bettye Gault, who owned and managed landmark family restaurants, Joe's Restaurant & Bar BQ and Joe's Barn Restaurant. Gordy grew up working in and managing the family business, and he personally knew each and every job. Gordy married his beloved wife and best friend, Elizabeth, in 1985, at which time they developed a successful over the road trucking business. Gordy was best known for his zeal for living every day to its fullest and always with a warm smile and a hearty joke. His generosity was unsurpassed and he had an infinite willingness to help anyone in need, day or night, sleep or no sleep. "Help" should have been his middle name. Above all else, however, were his children, Holly, 22, and Jesse, 20. He insured their solid upbringing and education were second to none. Gordy was preparing to see Holly and Jesse graduate from college and continue on to graduate school. One of his most cherished opportunities for helping others was working with the well-known Elves of Christmas Present, volunteering 15 Christmas Eves to create secret Christmas miracles for others in need. Gordy's other avocation was supporting girls/women soccer and boys/mens snow sports, both of which his children participated in throughout their school years. Gordy's personal hobbies were family and work, and he rarely found time for himself. But when he could steal a few hours, he loved riding his Harley with his wife, children, and friends. Earlier this summer, Gordy and Elizabeth just completed a dream vacation for two on his Harley to Vancouver, Canada. Leaving behind those to love and cherish his memories are his wife, Elizabeth; daughter, Holly; and son, Jesse, all of Spring Hill, as well as his parents Tom and Bettye Gault of Overland Park; sisters and brothers-in-law Jo Marie and Larry Joe Cox, Kelly Jean and Brian King, and Ruth Ann Gault-Allen; motherin-law Karen Orek; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Craig and Tina Bradshaw and Mark and Audrey Orek; six nieces and nephews, Megan, Sam, Anna Lee, Jordan, Justin, and Nathan; two great nephews, Thomas and Gage; the family pets Sable, Riley, Duke, Mickey and Minnie; his Harley, and countless lifetime friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions are made to either: Gordon Gault Memorial Scholarship Fund, M & I Bank, 11301 Nall Ave., Leawood, KS 66211, or The Elves of Christmas Present, PO Box 3535, Olathe, KS 66063.

Published in the Kansas City Star on 8/23/2007.