Legacy: (423) 843-2525
Wann: (423) 821-7551
Obituary of Gordon V Scales
On Friday, September 13, 2019, Norma Gordon Viall Scales, devoted wife, cherished mother, and loving grandmother, went to be with our Lord at the age of 80.
Gordon was born on November 5, 1938 in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Paul and Norma Viall and was adored by her parents and her older brother, Paul Jackson Viall, Jr. She loved acting and performed in many musicals with The Chattanooga Little Theater where she was awarded an Oscar for her performance as Elsbeth in the play “Janie” in 1949. Gordon attended the Girls Preparatory School and graduated in 1956. She went on to earn a degree in Elementary Education from Vanderbilt University where she met the love of her life, Richard Owen Scales, and graduated in 1959. Gordon and Dick were married in Chattanooga on December 26, 1959 and together they raised three children, one son and two daughters. They had a wonderful and exciting life full of many adventures as they followed Dick’s career from Chattanooga to Ohio, Mexico, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia before retiring in Chattanooga. With Dick at her side, Gordon devoted her life to her family. She had a gift for making each new house a home and made friends everywhere she went. Because of her, the family enjoyed a menagerie of pets throughout the years. She bred and showed collies, receiving a championship award for her beloved “Penny”. She also loved wildlife, especially birds, always keeping her feeders full. She put love into everything she did, including beautiful handwork that included crocheted baby booties, hand quilted baby bibs, gorgeous quilts, embroidery, and needlepoint.
Gordon developed a passion for researching family genealogy and did vast amounts of research and discovery of family history. She loved to share stories about her latest research on an ancestor, making them come to life. This passion was also demonstrated by her 58 years of service to the Chickamauga Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, where her offices held included Recording Secretary, Historian, Parliamentarian, Chaplain, and most notably, third generation Regent, following her mother, Norma Lavinia Gilbreath Viall, and her grandmother, Norma Lavinia Henley Gilbreath.
Gordon was delighted to return to Chattanooga for Dick’s retirement. She quickly reconnected with old friends, became active at First Centenary United Methodist Church and other groups. In addition to DAR, she was a sustaining member of the Junior League of Chattanooga, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Signal Mountain Genealogical Society, the Walden’s Ridge Guild, and the Chattanooga Area Historical Association. Gordon loved meeting weekly with her beloved friends in the Crafty Capers group at her church and enjoyed monthly dinner gatherings with her supper group from the Morgan Sunday School class.
Gordon was preceded in death by her father, Paul Jackson Viall, her mother, Norma Lavinia Viall, and her brother, Paul Jackson Viall, Jr. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Richard Owen Scales and her three children: Julia Scales Howie and husband John Howie, Richard Owen Scales, Jr. and wife Jennifer Scales, and Katherine Scales Gregory and husband Rob Gregory. She was adored and will be dearly missed by her eight grandchildren: Paul Howie, Jennifer Howie, Justin Scales, Trey Scales, Caroline Scales, Hannah Gregory, Stephen Gregory, and Joseph Gregory and her two step grandchildren Zac Cook and Sarah Cook.
Graveside services for family only will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 21, 2019 in Forest Hills Cemetery.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at First-Centenary United Methodist Church at 1:00 PM. The family will receive friends from 12 noon until the service hour at the church. A reception will follow the service at 2:00 PM.
To share memories and condolences please visit www.wannfuneralhome.com
Arrangements by Wann Funeral Home 4000 Tennessee Ave. Chattanooga, TN 37409 (423) 821-7551.
