Obituary of Gordon W. Travis, OCDS

Gordon W. Travis, OCDS, age 90, passed peacefully from this life into the loving arms of our Lord and Savior, on Thursday, August 12, 2021, at Vosswood Nursing Center, in Houston, Texas.  Gordon’s unfaltering Catholic faith and great love of God was a true testament witnessed by all who met him.  He was born on November 11, 1930, in Waukesha. Wisconsin to Mary Travis and Chester Travis. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, his beloved wife, Gloria Alice Travis; his parents, Mary & Chester Travis; his eldest brother, Donald Travis; and his youngest sister, Mary Travis.

He is survived by two siblings: his brother, Rev. Leo Joseph Travis C.SsR., a Redemptorist Father in Minburi, Bangkok, Thailand; his loving sister, Sr. Helen Mary Theresa Travis, a Nun at the Congregation of St. Joseph in Kalamazoo, Michigan; and his faithful companion, his dog, Skippy!

Gordon worked in the insurance industry most of his adult life. He retired from John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, where he had a successful career as a regional director, managing private investigators for 40+ years.

A professed member of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, Gordon served as a Council member for the St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face OCDS Community in Houston, Texas. Prior to moving to Houston, Gordon lived in Huntsville, Texas at “The Shrine of the Two Hearts,” a beautiful 16-acre sanctuary devoted to the Blessed Mother. Gordon, along with fellow volunteers, were committed to First Saturday Devotional Mass once a month.  Friends and fellow parishioners from St. Thomas Catholic Church gathered at the “Shrine” at 3: 00 p.m. every Sunday to recite a Rosary and a Divine Mercy Chaplet; often joined by visitors passing through. The Shrine of the Two Hearts attracted many visitors from all over the U.S.

Gordon’s spiritual journey began at home with a loving devout Catholic family. He continued his spiritual walk with an education at St. Joseph Preparatory College that ultimately led to a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Marquette University and a second Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Georgetown University.

Gordon’s great love of God, combined with his spiritual upbringing and education is what made Gordon the virtuous man that we all grew to know and love.  He lived life by example, which in turn provided spiritual guidance and direction to others. He generously supported numerous Catholic Charities, non-profit organizations, and many families in need. Gordon exuded the three theological virtues taught by his Catholic faith: Faith, Hope & Charity by simply relying on and trusting God for everything, until his peaceful end.

Please join us for a visitation at 6:00 p.m., followed by a recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m, on Friday, August 20, 2021 at Joseph J. Earthman Generations, 234 Westcott Street in Houston, Texas. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, August 21, 2021 at St. Theresa Catholic Church.  The Mass will be livestreamed and those preferring to attend the services online are asked to open the following link: https://www.sttheresa.cc/funeralstream which will remain online and available for viewing for a couple of weeks.  The Rite of Committal will commence on Monday, August 23, 2021 at Holy Cross Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.