Ernest Gordon

Ernest Gordon of Florence, Kentucky passed away on December 13, 2025, following a lengthy illness. Ernest was a man who never met a stranger and was energetic, curious and adventurous throughout his entire life.

As a youth, Ernest developed a passion for running and quickly honed the interest into a competitive edge. He would often reminisce about running on the same relay team as Cliff Wylie and competing in the Junior Olympics and Jesse Owen Games.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War Era. He completed Basic Training at Ft Benning and subsequently completed Airborne School and Ranger School which led him to become a Ranger Training Battalion Instructor. Ernest deployed to Korea and was the recipient of Expert Infantryman’s Badge, National Defense Service Medal, and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Following his service in the military, Ernest attended Morgan State University in Baltimore Maryland.

He became interested in drag racing at an early age and raced on multiple circuits throughout Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, including the Modern Street Hemi Shootout. His most recent local track was Edgewater Motorsports in Cleves, Ohio.

For several years Ernest was the Owner Operator of Gordon Logistics LLC and trained many new drivers over the road throughout the lower forty-eight as a Trainer and CDL Instructor for PRIME Inc. Ernest was a member of PRIME’S Gold Millionaire Club (1,000,000 safe miles). While driving at night, Ernest would frequently call into NFL Radio and was affectionately known as “Big E” talking about his beloved Baltimore Ravens.

Ernest was the happiest when attending track and field meets for his daughter Camille and football games for his son Erron. They were his pride and joy. He is the son of Betty Gordon and the late Ernest (Pete) Gordon.

He is also survived by his loving and devoted wife of 21 years Adrienne Kelley Gordon, his daughter Camille Gordon, siblings Garry Gordon (Patricia), Teresa Rogers (Terrence), and Michael Gordon, father-in-law Leroy Kelley Sr., brother-in-law Leroy Kelley Jr., aunts Joyce Underwood (Joel), Maxine Woods and Aunt Chris, Uncle Nick Lee and several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great niece and great-great nephew and many cousins.  In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his grandparents Fred and Dorothy Lee and Alfred and Ruth Gordon, two children Erron Gordon and Rosa Milan Gordon, and a brother Victor Gordon.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to St Elizabeth Cancer Center (Edgewood, KY) and University of Cincinnati Cancer Center (Cincinnati OH).