Wanda Gordon Meyer, 96, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus her Savior, on July 13, 2026 in her home with her daughter and son-in-law at her side.
Wanda Faye Clark was born May 26, 1930 in Optimo, New Mexico to William J. Clark, a railway mail clerk, and Mildred Zoe Foster Clark. Her brother, Donald Ray, was born 18 months later.
After the divorce, Wanda was raised in her grandparents’ home in Fort Worth. (She often stated that was where she felt the happiest and most secure in her childhood.) Her brother Don, and 12½ years later, her half-brother Keith Allen, lived with their dad in rural west Texas. Wanda was always especially close to her brother Don.
At age 14, she married Avalon A. Worley who was headed out to World War II. Her daughter, Donna Frances, was born when Wanda was 15½. Her son, Leslie Warren Russell, came 12½ years later, after marrying Vernon Russell.
In the 1970s and 80s Wanda worked for oil companies as a keypunch operator. She befriended many young women during those years, including best friend, Vicky Steere and husband David, and dear friends Karen Morris and Evelyn Daly, often helping them with their children as well. Wanda loved babies and young children. She was warm, kind, loving, intelligent and had the gift of encouragement. She was a voracious reader, and loved passing on her insights.
A woman of strong faith, Wanda began attending Faith Lutheran in Sugarland with beloved fresh-out-of-seminary Pastor Ken Sinclair and his wife Liz. While at Faith, she became godmother to lifelong friends Kay and Frank Brown’s twins, Jason and Heather, and daughter Megan. It was a happy and close-knit church family.
Following Leslie’s fatal car accident in December 1982, Wanda and Vernon subsequently divorced and Wanda moved to College Station near her brother Don.
In 1988, Wanda married THE love of her life, widower Carter Gordon. She loved his children Vicki and Murraye and their families dearly. She babysat Vicki’s two young children before she met their grandfather Carter. She and Carter also enjoyed caring for friends Laureen and Jason Thompson’s children, Trinity and Kathryn. Wanda volunteered at the hospital auxiliary there, as well as in grief support. She always said that life with Carter was the very best 18 years of her life.
In 2008 Wanda married widower Lou Meyer who she and Carter had known in their Livingston Presbyterian Church. They made their home in College Station where Wanda had already moved again to be near Don, who was recovering from brain surgery. Lou became great friends with Don and wife Barbara, as well as with Wanda’s brother Keith and wife Tammy. They often enjoyed visits and caring help from Lou’s daughter Sharon. Lou passed in 2023. Both were cared for in their last years in their home by Wanda’s daughter Donna and her husband John.
In 2016 Wanda wrote, “For some reason that seems a little strange, I always felt that I was adopted. When I would ask my mother if I was adopted, she always told me ‘No.’ For some reason I just didn’t feel I belonged. Many years later I found what to me was the answer to my question; it is in my favorite bible verse, Ephesians 1:5 ‘In love He predestined us to be adopted as sons (and daughters in my case) through Jesus Christ.’ So now I am excited about what is waiting for me.”
Wanda was preceded in death by her son, Leslie Russell; husbands, Carter Gordon and Louis Meyer, and brothers, Don and Keith Clark.
Survivors include her daughter, Donna Williss (John); stepdaughter, Vicki McCall; stepson, Murraye Gordon; stepdaughter, Sharon Chenault (Mike); stepdaughter, Debbie Scott (Rod); six grandchildren (Sonja, Leah, Jessie, Kathryn, Robby and Laura); sisters-in-law Tammy Clark and Barbara Ladwig; two cousins (Leah Raye and Ronnie); 19 great-grandchildren; eight great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and many very cherished friends. She will be so greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers please consider giving to her favorite charity, St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
The memorial service for Wanda will be August 14, 2026 at 1 p.m. in the sanctuary at Christ Church, 4201 State Hwy. 6 South in College Station.
