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James Leon Jordan was born at home in Arkansas City, Kansas on Dec. 24, 1941 to Timothy and Lottie Jordan. When he was 8 years old, Pearl Russell took him in as a foster child and raised him to adulthood in Montrose, Colorado.
On Jan. 20, 1965, Jim married Linda Carrol Wareham, and together they had three children in Clifton, Colorado. In 1967, he began driving truck by hauling uranium ore, hauling it across Colorado and Utah. In 1969, he went to work for Wholesale Building Supply (later Boise Cascade) and started driving the interstate.
In July of 1987, Jim and Linda moved to Powell, Wyoming, where Jim began driving for Dick Jones Trucking, remaining there for 30 years before retiring. From beginning to end, Jim drove for 50 years and over 4 million miles across the country and Canada, and he enjoyed every adventure he had on the road. In April of 1993, he was awarded Driver of the Month by Dick Jones Trucking. Then in June of 1994, Jim received the award of Truck Driver of the Year by the Wyoming Trucking Association.
In his time at home, Jim enjoyed tending his large garden, hunting in the mountains, but most of all, he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Jim passed away on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 from complications of pneumonia with his wife and children by his side. He was preceded in death by his parents Timothy and Lottie, three sisters Naomi, Mary and Judy, and two brothers, Jesse and Clayton. He has one brother and two sisters who were never found after the children went into foster care.
Jim is survived by his wife Linda of 61 years, his brother Sam (Eulah) Hawks of Montrose, Colorado, his daughters Trudi Ray of Cody, Wyoming, and Melody (Wayne) Morrison of Powell, Wyoming, his son James (Tracy) Jordan of Gillette, Wyoming, seven grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren, and a son from a previous marriage, Terry Jordan of Taylorsville, Utah. Per his request, Jim will be cremated and there will be no services.
Memorials may be sent to the Jordan’s home in Powell, Wyoming, at 980 East Washington St.
