John Roy Gordon, 68

John Roy Gordon, 68, passed away from lung cancer complications on Feb. 9, 2011, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. His immediate family was able to arrive, and he was comforted by their love at his bedside.

John was born on Sept. 8, 1942, in Denver. He moved to Boise, Idaho, at an early age, and subsequently moved to Chicago at age 10 where his father attended seminary. The family then moved to Filer, Idaho, where he lived until moving to Kalispell; he completed his senior year at Flathead County High School.

He attended the University of Montana and School of Law and received his Juris Doctor, with honors, in 1967. He was a member of Phi Delta Phi and an associate editor of the Montana Law Review.

In 1967-1968, he clerked for Judge Walter Pope of the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco. John was very proud of that experience. In 1968, John became an associate with the law firm of Bjella & Jestrab in Williston, N.D.

In 1976, John then became a partner in Murray, Kaufman, Vidal and Gordon, PC, in Kalispell. He practiced in all levels of Montana courts including the Federal District Court and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

John married Carol Wandesforde Lattin in 1991. Everyone who knew them saw they had an exceptional marriage. They moved to Missoula where he was a partner of Reep, Spoon and Gordon PC. In 2003, he became a partner of Spoon Gordon PC where he worked until he became ill in 2009.

John began working at a very early age and bought his first motor scooter to ride to his night job in a restaurant at age 13. John always put his whole self in whatever he pursued including his fascination with technology and computers. He worked several jobs while going through college to help support his family, and still graduated at the top of his law school class due to his efforts.

John and his previous wife, Bev Evans, had three daughters. He supported them in a variety of activities, from swimming to motor bike racing to riding horses, and they lovingly relived their memories.

John's many other passions sustained his need to speed. He loved riding mountain trial bikes and a variety of motorcycles during his lifetime. Later in life, one his favorite pastimes was traveling to NASCAR races with Carol and friends. John was also a big Grizzly football supporter and enjoyed the games and atmosphere.

He and Carol traveled on several occasions to Scotland and England where Carol had family. They went to Hawaii numerous times, Turks and Caicos, and Italy. They had great adventures and always returned with many humorous stories to tell. Watching John learn to drive on the left side of the road would raise an exclamation of “Craggy Moses! You're going to kill me, sonny boy!” from Carol's octogenarian Scottish aunt.

John was involved in many organizations over the years. He was a member of the State Bar Association of North Dakota and was the secretary-treasurer and chair of Young Lawyers Section. He was a member of the State Bar of Montana where he was on the board of trustees, and chair of the CLE Institute from 1989 to 1992, and on the CLE board. John was a member of the Montana Defense Trial Lawyers, the American Bar Association, the United States Court of International Trade, a commissioner of the Missoula Count Airport Authority and a member of the American Board of Trial advocates.

His partner and friend, Dan Spoon, summed up John thus: "He was an old-school trial lawyer who loved trying cases, and he was exceptional at his trade: the Quintessential Trial Lawyer. In his work he was very firm, but always fair to his adversary: the Ultimate Professional. And when life came down to brass tacks, it was John Gordon that I absolutely knew I could always count on: the Ultimate Friend."

Preceding John in death were his parents, Doris and John Gordon; and his brother, Don Gordon.

He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Carol; his sister, Charlotte, and Dan Stone; his daughters, Cheryl and Mark Burnham from Salem, Ore., Jacquie and Tim Finholm from Denver, and Tiffany and Randy Lewis from Billings; stepsons, Brandon and Courtney Hayes-Lattin from Portland, and Brent and Nicole Lattin from Washington, D.C.; sister-in-law, Lou Gordon; niece, Jill Gordon; nephew, Jeff Gordon; and ex-wife, Bev Gordon.

He had 11 grandchildren, Christina and Brittany Gordon, Grace, Anne and Gordon Burnham, Olivia and Alden Finholm, Mikayla and Makenzie Lewis, and Madison and Bridger Haves-Lattin. John had one great-grandchild, Madison Gordon.

The family would like to extend sincere thanks to John's doctors and the caring nurses at St. Patrick Hospital, especially Dr. Richard Sellman, Dr. Philip Roper, Dr. Michael Snyder, Dr. Michael Caldwell, Dr. Nancy Eyler, Dr. Beth Thompson and John's stepson, Dr. Brandon Hayes-Lattin. John was able to donate his cornea tissue to Sight Life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests considering a donation to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, National Mail Processing Center, P.O. Box 6002, Albert Lea, MN 56007-6002.

Per John's wishes, no formal services are being held. He has been cremated at Garden City Funeral Home. A celebration of his life will be held at a future date.