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A photo of Osa Marie Gordon

Osa Marie Gordon 1911 - 1983

Osa Marie (Beck) Gordon of North Hollywood, Los Angeles County, CA was born on December 7, 1911 in Colby, Thomas County, Kansas United States. She was married to John Shields Gordon on November 23, 1942 in Washington, District Of Columbia, and they were together until John's death on April 12, 1972. She had children James Beck Gordon and John Beck. Osa Gordon died at age 71 years old on June 3, 1983 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA, and was buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery Section 322 Row M Site 4 950 South Sepulveda Boulevard, in Los Angeles.

Osa Marie (Beck) Gordon
Name
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North Hollywood, Los Angeles County, CA 91601
Last residence
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December 7, 1911
Colby, Thomas County, Kansas, 67701, United States
Birth
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June 3, 1983
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States
Death
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Updated: May 6, 2024
Biography ID: 67859859 What's this
Osa Marie Gordon Osa Gordon (1911 - 1983)
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Osa Marie (Beck) Gordon's History: 1911 - 1983

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  • Introduction

    Osa Marie (Beck) Gordon was born on December 7th, 1911 in Colby, Kansas, to Henry Vorhees D. Beck (1868 - 1924) and Hettie Ann Wolfe (1890 - 1981). Her father was born in Missouri and her mother was born in Tennessee. Osa had three siblings: two sisters, Lea, born 1914 and Thelma, born 1917, and one brother: Dr. Henry Vorce Beck, born 1920. Osa Marie Beck married John Shields Gordon. on November 23rd, 1942, in Washington, D.C. They had two sons: James Beck Gordon, and John Beck. Osa's son, James Beck Gordon, achieved fame as a drummer, winning a Grammy in 1970 for his collaboration with Eric Clapton on "Layla," which won "Best Rock Song." Tragically, he was later convicted of second-degree murder for the killing of his mother and sentenced to sixteen years to life in prison. At the time of the crime, he had recently been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia although he had been exhibiting signs of mental illness for years and had been complaining of "hearing voices" during that time. Osa was murdered by her son, James, on June 3rd, 1983 in North Hollywood, California. She was 71 years old and a widow - James' father had died years earlier -and is buried in Los Angeles National Cemetery in Section 322 Row M, in Los Angeles, California. The sad story of a successful son killing his own mother was covered in local newspapers such as Drummer Faces Trial for Killing. The following article was written just before his first trial: Drummer Faces Trial for Killing. See a photo of Osa's son, James Beck Gordon, who killed her. He died in 2023 in the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, California. James Beck Gordon. Also see James Beck Gordon: Obituary.
  • 12/7
    1911

    Birthday

    December 7, 1911
    Birthdate
    Colby, Thomas County, Kansas 67701, United States
    Birthplace
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  • Early Life & Education

    She was a graduate of St. Luke's Hospital in Denver Colorado and did graduate work in anesthesia at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis.

  • Military Service

    Branch of service: Us Army Rank attained: CPT Wars/Conflicts: World War Ii

  • Professional Career

    Osa was an obstetrics nurse. Previous to her marriage, she worked at the San Angelo Medical and Surgical Clinic and the Shannon Hospital for seven years. She left San Angelo for employment as a anesthetist at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C.
  • 06/3
    1983

    Death

    June 3, 1983
    Death date
    murder: stabbed and beaten by son.
    Cause of death
    Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States
    Death location
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  • Gravesite & Burial

    mm/dd/yyyy
    Funeral date
    Los Angeles National Cemetery Section 322 Row M Site 4 950 South Sepulveda Boulevard, in Los Angeles, Ca 90049
    Burial location
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    Memories
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4 Memories, Stories & Photos about Osa

James Beck Gordon
Photo of Kathy Pinna Kathy Pinna
32.7k+ favorites
05/03/2024
James Beck Gordon
A 1984 photo of James Beck Gordon in court while being tried for the murder of his mother, Osa Gordon.
Date & Place: in California United States
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Osa Marie Gordon
Photo of Kathy Pinna Kathy Pinna
32.7k+ favorites
05/03/2024
Osa Marie Gordon
1942 photo of Osa Marie Gordon that was included in her wedding announcement.
Date & Place:
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Photo of Kathy Pinna Kathy Pinna
32.7k+ favorites
05/03/2024
North Hollywood
James Beck Gordon, former drummer for the Everly Brothers and for rock star Eric Clapton, this week entered two pleas, innocent and innocent by reason of insanity, to charges of murdering his 71-year-old mother two months ago. Gordon, 37, was arrested in June the day after police officers found the body of Osa Gordon in her North Hollywood apartment. A coroner's autopsy reported that the woman had been stabbed several times and beaten with a hammer.

The double plea is a normal procedure when sanity is at issue, said Gordon's attorney, Scott Furstman. Because of the two please, the trial will be split into two phases: whether Gordon committed the crime, and if he is found guilty, whether he is sane. Two psychiatrists were ordered by the judge to examine Gordon and will report before the trial begins, scheduled for September 27.

At the preliminary hearing last month, a North Hollywood police detective testified that Gordon told him he killed his mother when he arrested him in his Van Nuys condominium. Gordon is being held in County Jail. Bail was denied.

- The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Thursday, August 11, 1983 on page 245.
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Photo of Kathy Pinna Kathy Pinna
32.7k+ favorites
05/03/2024
Drummer Faces Trial for Killing
ENCINO (AP) - A former drummer for the Everly Brothers and Eric Clapton has been ordered to stand trial on a charge of killing his 71-year-old mother. James Beck Gordon, 37, was ordered bound over at the conclusion of his preliminary hearing Thursday in Municipal Court. The body of his mother, Osa Gordon, who had been stabbed and beaten with a hammer, was found June 3 in her North Hollywood apartment.

Gordon's attorney, Scott Furstman, said his client would plead innocent by reason of insanity at his August 4 Superior Court arraignment. "It's a sad story. The guy was a victim of the system. He needed help but couldn't get it." Furstman said.

Gordon allegedly was angry because his mother planned to move to Northern California to live with another son. Bail has been denied in the case and Gordon has been ordered not to telephone other family members, who authorities say fear him.

Police and attorneys said Gordon played on about eight gold records and was making $100,000 a year with the Everly Brothers when he was 17 years old.

- Merced Sun-Star (Merced, California) Saturday, July 23, 1983 on page 4.
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Osa Beck's Family Tree & Friends

Osa Beck's Family Tree

Parent
Parent
Osa Marie Gordon
Osa Marie Gordon Dec 7, 1911 - Jun 3, 1983
Partner
Child
Sibling
Marriage

John Shields Gordon

&

Osa Marie Gordon

November 23, 1942
Marriage date
Washington, District of Columbia United States
Marriage location
John's Death
Cause of Separation
April 12, 1972
John's death date
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Osa Marie Gordon
Osa Marie Gordon Dec 7, 1911 - Jun 3, 1983
John Shields Gordon Jan 24, 1908 - Apr 12, 1972
Child
James Beck Gordon
James Beck Gordon Jul 14, 1945 - Mar 13, 2023
John Beck
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Other Biographies

Other Beck Family Biographies

Beck, Absolom (Born 1881) Condley, Elizabeth (Born 1824) Beck, Croline (Born Nov 9, 1826) Beck, Daniel (Born Nov 8, 1825) Beck, William (Born May 10, 1850) Beck, Virginia Elizabeth (Born Jan 26, 1856) Beck, Marian (Born May 17, 1908) Beck, Elizabeth (Born 1911) Beck, Henry Beck, Harry
Beck, Laurence (Born Oct 26, 1886) Beck, Sarah (Born Dec 7, 1863) Beck, Jacob (Born Jul 7, 1860) Beck, David (Born Mar 31, 1886) Beck, Obera (Born Sep 13, 1908) Beck, Lewis (Born Jun 8, 1906) Beck-Teal, Martha (Born Aug 30, 1857) Beck-Trotter, Jewel (Born Oct 30, 1909) Beck, Rueben (Born Dec 25, 1849) Beck, Margaret (Born Jan 26, 1923)
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