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
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
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Date posted on this site: 07/12/2023
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