Gordon Cannell

EL PASO, TEXAS — Gordon H. Cannell, 73, passed away on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at his home in El Paso, Texas, with his family nearby, following a months-long struggle with cancer.
He was born in Sweden, on Oct. 26, 1941, a son of Warren W. and Dorothy M. Cannell. He attended school in Sweden before the family moved to Bridgton, where he graduated from Bridgton High School in 1960. He loved sports, playing and excelling in basketball, football, and baseball all four years. He also had fond memories of school plays. In 2010 he attended his 50th class reunion here in Bridgton at the community center and so enjoyed seeing classmates.
A Viet Nam veteran, Gordon served 22 years in the Army, retiring as a Major. He settled with his family in El Paso, where he continued a new career with the Civil Service at Ft. Bliss.
After his second retirement, he and his wife Lee purchased and reestablished Border Hose Supply in El Paso, as he was unable to stay inactive, always searching for a new challenge. Selling the company in 2014, he retired for the third time.
A tremendous sports fan, Gordon could be found at home, rooting for the New England Patriots, as well as the Univ. of El Paso (UTEP) men's basketball team. Sports was his entertainment but his recreation was traveling. He and Lee had taken cruises to Alaska and Hawaii, as well as traveling in their motor home to most of the United States and parts of Canada, visiting family and friends and seeing sights they wanted to see. He preferred to come to Maine in the early Summer, as living in west Texas, humidity was not something he enjoyed, nor were the Maine winters.
His funeral was held at on Dec. 23, 2014, at University Presbyterian Church El Paso, where his church family found Gordon a fixture each Sunday and throughout many events. His faith kept him and his family strong throughout life's daily struggles, and helped him stay grounded with what he believed were the appropriate priorities in his life, God, Family, and Country.
Gordon is survived by his wife of 48 years, Lee; daughter, Lisa Whitaker and husband Rob of El Paso; daughter, Loran Marquez and husband Dan of O'Fallon, Mo.; grandchildren, Matthew, Brittany and Gordon Whitaker, and Lianne Marquez; and a sister, Beverly Berry and husband David of Bridgton. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents and brothers, Alan and David Cannell.