James Donald Gordon

James was a kind and caring man, wrapped in a thick layer of irreverent humor and uncommon grace. He died on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, after fighting many physical health battles over several years.

James was born on May 11, 1973, in Gardena, California. He enjoyed a childhood surrounded by the best cousins a kid could ask for, spent time camping at Mill Creek Campground, explored all the wonders of the creek, and enjoyed long family drives to visit relatives in Oklahoma. He also relished many trips to Disneyland, where he developed a love for all things Donald Duck.

He lived in California until he was 18 years old, when he moved to Arizona for several years. In 2004, he moved to Longmont, Colorado to take care of his newly born nephew and niece and their older sister, and was affectionately referred to as their “manny.”

James was definitely an Uncle-plus to his nephew and nieces. He would take them to the zoo, the aquarium, the Butterfly Pavilion, and every single park in Longmont. He was very protective of them and always made sure they were safely buckled in the car, they wore their hats in the sun, and didn’t eat too much dirt. He knew how to console them when they were sad, knew what food they liked the best, and knew how to fill the day with fun and enriching activities.

When the kids went to school, James worked in customer service at Walmart and at Safeway. As his health started to decline and he was confined to a wheelchair, he made friends with his caregivers, his drivers, and many health professionals. It was common for James to send out funny cartoons or stories he saw on Facebook, just to let you know he was thinking of you. Our family would like to thank the many caregivers who attended to James with compassion and patience. Or, as James would say, “peas and tanks!”

James loved action films, no matter how bad they were, and enjoyed movie nights with his family where we would watch movies together and either complain about his taste or react with surprise when he chose a good movie. He loved jazz music and his laugh was loud and contagious.

James is survived by his parents, Ken and Sandi Gordon, his sister Carolyn, her husband Mark, many, many cousins, and his 3 favorite people in the world: nephew Connor and nieces Mary and Phoebe.

A memorial service will occur on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Longmont Church of Christ, 1351 Collyer Street, Longmont, CO 80501.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hopelight Medical Clinic, 1351 Collyer Street, Longmont, CO 80501.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com for his loving family.