Gordon David Goering, 97, left his home on earth on June 11, 2019, following a brief illness and surrounded by his devoted family.  He and his wife, Joyce Nickerson Goering, recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary with family and friends at their Highland Springs Retirement Community home in Dallas.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce; three daughters, Susan Goering Hill (Doug) of Sparks, Nevada; Nanci Goering Barr (Ken) of Richardson, Texas; and Marlyse Goering Bassett (Mikkel) of Dallas, Texas; four granddaughters, Renee Barr Wensel (Duke) of Plano, Texas; Kimberly Barr Frueh (Jason) of Wimberley, Texas; Alexis Hill (Matthew Tuma) of Reno, Nevada; Adrienne Hill of Reno, Nevada; one great-grandson, Houston Ross of Plano,Texas; and one great-granddaughter, Faeryn Frueh of Wimberley, Texas.

Gordon was born on May 3, 1922, in Pretty Prairie, Kansas.  The youngest child of Gerhard G. Goering and Ella Unruh Goering, he grew up in a close-knit and hardworking farming community with many cousins as well as his siblings to accompany him through chores and shenanigans.  He was predeceased by his parents and four siblings: Clifford, Ruth, Bill and Marguerite.

Gordon graduated from Pretty Prairie High School and Hutchinson Junior College,  displaying the intelligence and dedication to excellence that became his legacy.  He interrupted his studies in chemical engineering at Kansas State University in 1943 to serve in the United States Naval Reserve during WWII.  His sweetheart, Joyce Nickerson, took the train from Kansas, where the two fell in love while at Kansas State, to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he was attending classes at Harvard.  She became his bride on June 3, 1944.

Gordon's first active duty assignment was in the Atlantic aboard the heavy cruiser USS Augusta.  He later served on the staff of the Commanding Officer of Destroyer Squadron 3.

He received his chemical engineering degree in 1945 and joined the millions of returning servicemen in restarting the American economy in the postwar boom.  He began his distinguished career with Phillips Petroleum Company at their Kansas City, Kansas refinery.  Gordon later transferred to Sweeny, Texas, providing pivotal experience in refinery expansions that led to his promotion in 1964 to the Phillips International Department in New York City. He went on to serve as vice president of Phillips Puerto Rico Core, Inc. and to lead Phillips operations in Antwerp, Belgium; London and Teesside, England; and Stavanger, Norway.

Gordon ended his career at Phillips Petroleum Company's headquarters in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, retiring as senior vice president of the company's petroleum products group.

His professional and personal achievements were countless, including his contributions to Phillips Petroleum Company and the engineering profession and numerous academic advisory leadership roles with Kansas State University.  He and Joyce established an engineering scholarship fund that continues to fund many engineering students' educational dreams.

After retirement, Gordon and Joyce relocated from Oklahoma to Austin, Texas, where they lived for 21 years.  His final home was at the Highland Springs Retirement Community in Dallas. During their 75 years of marriage, they were faithful members of churches wherever they were living, and finally, at First United Methodist Church, Richardson, Texas.  Gordon greatly enjoyed Bible study, listening to audiobooks on historical and biographical topics, watching college football and encouraging his children and grandchildren in all of their endeavors.  They all hope to continue his tradition of generosity and love.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 9, 2019, at Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main St., Hutchinson, Kansas. Burial will follow in Lone Star Cemetery, Pretty Prairie, with military honors conducted by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

A Goering scholarship memorial fund has been established at the Kansas State University Foundation. Contributions may be sent to: KSU Foundation, 1800 Kimball Ave., Ste. 200, Manhattan, KS 66502, please indicate fund M47264. To make a gift online, go to www.ksufoundation.org/give/memorials and select the Goering, Gordon Memorial Fund.