More detail on this person: Collapsed and died in the shower at the Peppermill Resort Hotel while
attending the 33rd annual reunion of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association.
Graveside service for retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Gordon D. "Gordy" Colis, 78, Lawton, will be
at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 14, 2016, in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, with the Rev. John
Cramer, retired Methodist Minister, Lawton, officiating.
Burial with full military honors will be in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, under direction of
Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.
Mr. Colis passed away Thursday, July 7, 2016, in Reno, Nev.
He was born Jan. 6, 1938, in Valley City, N.D., to Pete and Edith Myrtle (Tvedt) Colis. He graduated
from Valley City College High in 1956. He was a great athlete and to this day still holds the record
at Valley High for the most points scored in a basketball game. He joined the U.S. Army and retired
as a Chief Warrrant Officer 4, Master Aviator, after 29 years of service. He flew fixed-wing
aircraft, rotary wing and was an instrument examiner. He was an observation helicopter pilot, a
cargo helicopter pilot and a heavy lift helicopter pilot. One of his greatest achievements in the
Army was being with the Executive Presidential Flight Detachment as a pilot who flew Army 1 for
President Gerald Ford.
Chief Colis honorably served during Vietnam and earned the following awards for his service;
Meritorious Unit Commendation, Master Army Aviator Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, Republic of
Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Medal with 32 Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous
Unit Award, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Vietnam Service Medal with 7 Service Stars,
Humanitarian Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the
Presidential Service Badge.
He married Zella Sue Thompson on June 19, 1997, in Las Vegas. He earned his Bachelor's of Business
from Cameron University, and at the time of his death he was the CEO and co-owner of A-OK Office
Systems for the last 32 years. Gordy was a member of the Vietnam Veterans, the VFW and was a
32nd degree Mason.
Survivors include his wife, Sue of the home; children: Sheryl Sims and husband Tommy of Lawton;
Debora Horsch and husband John of Moore; Steven Colis of Fort Worth, Texas; and Lana Moore and
husband Mike of Cache; siblings: Eleanor Ritter and husband Don of Eugene, Ore.; Beverly Ertelt of
Buckley, Wash.; Donald Colis and wife Viki of Mandan, N.D.; and Caroline Kulek and husband
Raymond of Palm Springs; three granddaughters: Justine Horsch, Kaylee Horsch, and Kelby Sims
Timoney; four grandsons: Steven Colis, Scott Colis, Grady Moore and Logan Moore; and
great-granddaughter, Adaline Timoney. He was also survived by very close nephews and niece: Lary
Benzinger of Oregon, Dan Colis of Seattle; and Vivian Lang of Bismarck, N.D.; and numerous other
nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Merriam Colis of Seattle; sister, Eileen
Benzinger and her husband Johnny of Bismarck, N.D.; and a nephew, Gary Benzinger.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America, 1004 SW
B Ave., Lawton 73501, or to a local food pantry of your choice.
The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at the funeral home.
An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com
This information was last updated 07/15/2016
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Date posted on this site: 08/31/2024
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