Lawrence William "Blade" Jordan, Jr.

L. W. “Blade” Jordan, Jr., died after a short and dignified battle with cancer in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 30, 2023. The son of Larry and Jo Jordan of Iron Mountain, Wyoming, he is survived by his sister, Teresa Jordan, and her husband Hal Cannon, of Portland, Oregon; his step-niece, Anneliese Cannon, of Madison, Wisconsin; and his sister-in-law, Carolyn Cannon Jenkins, of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Blade graduated from Cheyenne East High School and attended the University of Wyoming before joining the 82^ndAirborne where he earned his Parachute and Expert M-16 badges as well as Good Conduct and National Service medals. After his service, he worked as both a gunsmith and motorcycle mechanic.

After struggling with alcoholism and addiction earlier in his life, his spent his last three decades sober and clean. He was a sensitive and honorable man. When his brother-in-law Hal asked him how he got clean on his own, he answered that things had gotten to the point where he either had to stop using or start stealing, and he was not a thief. Once clean, he never relapsed. He had a quirky sense of humor and was unfailingly generous. When he was hospitalized last August with the knowledge that he had only a few weeks to live, his first concern was that we deliver the hearty stash of Christmas presents he had already purchased. His delight in Christmas and his talent at finding offbeat but surprisingly appropriate presents are among the many reasons we will miss him.