Gordon Keith Choate, 68, passed away Dec. 15 at St. Charles Hospital in Bend, surrounded by his family.

Gordon was born July 22, 1947, in Burns. He was the second of five children born to John and Ima Choate. Gordon grew up in Burns with his family, and later graduated from Burns Union High School in 1965. After high school, he worked in the lumber industry as a mill worker and logger until 1985, when he moved to Redmond to attend Central Oregon Community College (COCC) in Bend. After graduating from COCC, Gordon worked as a substance abuse counselor for almost 10 years, assisting individuals through the difficult phases of recovery. In 1995, Gordon began his adventure as a self-employed business owner, dabbling in various business ventures that included owning Country Pleasures Antiques in downtown Redmond, buying and selling real estate, and his latest endeavor of running an online auction website. Gordon lived his life with zest and grit, touching many along the way. He was a self proclaimed “mountain man” who found solace in the outdoors, spending much of his time hunting or backpacking with friends and family.

Gordon is survived by his daughters, Debbie George, Dawn Choate-Combs, Becky Winters, and Melissa Church-Roberts; grandchildren,  Tyler George, Hannah George, Brooks Morgan, Nicole Morgan, Austin Wilson, Bree Porfily, Logan Porfily, and Lucas Roberts; great-grandchild, Dakota Worman; and siblings, Tom Choate, Jerry Choate, and Sharyn Ochoa.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m., Jan. 9, at Redmond Grange, 707 SW Kalama Ave. in Redmond. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Autumn Funerals in Redmond, 541-504-9485, www.autumnfunerals.net.

Should friends desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to family at 1473 SW Canyon Drive, Redmond, Oregon, 97756.