Gordon Bristol, 79, Custom Furrier

Gordon Bristol, a furrier who worked in the trade from his early teen years to just last year, earned special respect with his custom-made mink coat designs.

Mr. Bristol owned and operated Gordon's Custom Furs in Seattle for 56 years. He died Tuesday in Seattle at the age of 79.

A quiet man involved in many social activities in the city, Mr. Bristol designed his coats to customers' exact specifications.

``He was known throughout the nation as a designer,'' said his daughter, Janet Gundersen of Seattle. ``There weren't too many like him left.''

A Shriners service for Mr. Bristol is scheduled for 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Scottish Rite Temple, 1155 Broadway East.

Mr. Bristol was born Nov. 6, 1911, in Vancouver, B.C. The son of an engineer, Mr. Bristol had little education beyond the high-school level. He learned his craft by working as an apprentice.

His parents moved the family south to Seattle when Mr. Bristol was a boy. As a teen-ager, Mr. Bristol worked in the shops of David Green and other local furriers. Later in life, Mr. Bristol taught his craft at the Lake Washington Vocational Technical School.

He acquired his own business in the early 1930s.

He and his wife, Alice, celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary June 6.

Mr. Bristol was active in many social groups, including the Shriners, the Swedish Club, Lake City Elks Lodge 1800 and the Sertoma Club. He held various leadership positions in the Shriners clubs and marched in many parades with different units.

``He was a very gentle gentleman,'' said Marge Sessa, a family friend who also worked as a secretary at one of the Shriners clubs for many years. ``He always made you feel at ease.''

Besides his work, Mr. Bristol enjoyed hiking and gardening.

He spent many hours also at the family's cabin on Bainbridge Island. ``He really enjoyed the serenity there. He found inner peace there, too, and that is what he passed on to us,'' his daughter said.

Besides his daughter and wife, Mr. Bristol is survived by two sons, Gordon C. Bristol and Bruce R. Bristol, both of Seattle; a sister, Olive Sprague of Ontario, Canada; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to the Shriners' fund for its crippled children's hospitals or to Medic 1.