ALMA CARITA DAUGHERTY GORDON, beloved educator, missionary and community health advocate died peacefully the evening of July 21, 2024, in Anderson SC, after a good day enjoying people and reading.

Alma was born December 4, 1933, in St. Louis MO, the daughter of Milton and Carrie Daugherty. She became a world traveler at an early age, meeting her future husband on a dusty road in the interior of Brazil when she was four years old. In 1956, after graduating with a nursing degree from the University of Connecticut, Alma married Alan Gordon, and moved back to Brazil from the US. When asked, "Where is home?" she said, "Home is both places. But you could say Brazil is my heart home. [Alan] was born there, and I grew up there. Brazil never left his heart, and my heart never left his."

In Brazil, they served as medical missionaries under the Presbyterian Church (USA) Mission Board first at the Evangelical Hospital in Dourados MS (1972-1979), where Alma founded and directed a nursing school, and later at the Good Samaritan Clinic in the mega-city of São Paulo (1979-1997) during which time Alma completed a Masters degree in Nursing Education. Throughout their ministry, Alan and Alma invested wholeheartedly in public health and in the Brazilian church. They trained many Brazilian missionaries by sharing their expertise and experience of cross-cultural adaptation and healthy families.

Alma, who loved the ocean, and Alan, who loved Alma, retired to the seashore town of Mongaguá, Brazil in 1997 where they enjoyed their church and many family get-togethers. In 2000 they moved to Winter Park, FL. From there they shared and enjoyed the local culture from Disney World to Rollins College events. During those years, they sang in the church choir and traveled to many countries around the globe. In 2010, after Alan died, Alma moved to a retirement home in Anderson, SC to be near her eldest daughter, Sylvia Woodall. She was active at Central Presbyterian Church, where she served as elder, Sunday School teacher and advocate for international missions.

A fourth-generation missionary kid, Alma published "Don't Pig Out on Junk Food" in 1993 on the subject of missionary families preparing their kids for reentry to the US. In 1999, she wrote a series of true stories about her daughters entitled "Once Upon a Time." And in 2014, to inspire and encourage her grandkids, she published "Joy Along the Way" sharing generations of family heritage filled with life lessons she and Alan learned.

Alma was characterized by a cheerful interest in whoever was around her and a devoted love for God's Word and God's people. Alma was loved and admired by her brothers Dale and Chuck Daugherty, as well as her son-in-law Bill Dodson, who preceded her in death. She is survived by 6 daughters and 5 sons-in-law: Sylvia & Hunter Woodall (Anderson SC), Sonia & Steve Dettweiler (Nigeria), Sandra Dodson (Titusville FL), Simone & Matthew McKinnon (Mount Holly NJ), Joy & Kevin Decker (Huntersville NC) and Susan & Dennis Walters (Duncanville TX). She leaves a legacy of love and faithfulness to her 18 grandchildren, 1 great-grandson and many beloved friends around the world who will miss her.

The family will host a celebration of her life on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at 11 am at Central Presbyterian Church in Anderson, SC.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Central Presbyterian Church (International Missions Fund), 1404 North Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621.