December 5, 1941 - October 14, 2014 Gord passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer at the age of 72 at the Dr. Leonard A. Miller Centre surrounded by his wife Lisa, sons Bill and Ken, daughter Dianna and husband Phil, granddaughter Julia, grandson Curtis, and friends Dick and Connie Hancock. The following is edited from his induction in the Newfoundland and Labrador Business Hall of Fame (2010):
"Gord was a hardworking man who pursued the entrepreneurial spirit and was the model of generosity. Gord went to work at the Iron Ore Company of Canada in 1960 and after 14 years, left IOC to work full time on the growth of his own business interests in Labrador West. His entrepreneurial pursuits focused on rental and retail properties and numerous distributorships operated under his parent company House-Man Limited. He leased and operated Carol Lodge and owned Labrador Chrysler Limited. He opened Royal Carpet and Matchless Decor, in partnership with his two sons, which grew into a full time furniture business. In 2008, it became Leon's Furniture Store. He is a founding member of Lo-Lo Foods supermarkets in Labrador City and Wabush. His businesses made him the third largest employer in Labrador West in the 1980s and 1990s. Gord had significant charitable involvements to his credit, including the Builder's Award for the Town of Labrador City and the President's Vote of Thanks from the Newfoundland and Labrador Lung Association. Born and raised in St. John's, Gord was an accomplished student and exceptional athlete who proudly represented Curtis Academy." Gord is predeceased by his infant-son Robert, his parents Howard and Marjorie Manstan. Leaving to mourn Gord are his wife Lisa, his son Bill (Donna), his daughter Dianna (Phil), his son Ken (Louise) and their mother Anita; his grandchildren Julia, Curtis, Jeffrey, Robert, Marie, Paul, David and Sophie; his brothers Douglas (Jean) and Frank (Dianne); his nieces and nephews Stephanie, Steven, Stanley and Justin; his sister-in-law Tina Snow (Tim), brother-in-law Morgan (Laurene) and rest of Snow family, and a very large circle of friends. A special thank you to Dr. Greg Rideout, Ann-Marie Norman, the oncology staff at the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre and palliative care staff at the Dr. Leonard A. Miller Centre. Visitations are on Thursday, Oct. 16 and Friday, Oct. 17, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., at the Barrett's Funeral Home located at 328 Hamilton Avenue in St. John's. The funeral service will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 12 noon at the Wesley United Church, 101 Patrick Street in St. John's. Interment to follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Flowers gratefully accepted or donations may be made to the Daffodil Place of St. John's or a charity of choice. Please visit www.barretts.ca to sign the memorial guest book.