Alan Blood

R. Alan Blood, of Syracuse Utah, was called home on Saturday, October 15, 2016, after a long and valiant battle with breast cancer. He was 43 years old.

Alan was born February 16, 1973, at Group Health Hospital in Seattle, Washington, to Robert Michael and Anita Marian Blood. He had three younger sisters, and many nieces and nephews. He graduated from Cascade High School in Everett, Washington, and attended Shoreline College in Shoreline, Washington. Alan was a passionate learner and he taught himself, or sought learning from others, for work, family, and personal projects, and excelled at whatever he attempted. He served an LDS mission in Helsinki, Finland, and found it to be a life-changing experience. He was an active member of the Maplewood ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Syracuse, Utah.

Alan was a devoted husband and loving father. He is survived by his wife and best friend, Michelle, and his four amazing children: Jennifer (17), Lindsey (14), Allison (12), and Evan (8). Alan married Michelle Anne Lockard in the Seattle LDS Temple, on July 20, 1996. Alan would describe their 20-year marriage as the best years of his life that brought out the best in him.

Alan had a talent and passion for art and design, and sought to enhance the visual experience. He worked as a Senior Product Designer at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, for 10 years before they relocated to Utah. He worked as a UX Design Manager for FamilySearch.org in Salt Lake City, Utah, for the past 10 years. He loved his work, not only as a vehicle for magnifying his artistic and technical talents for the user experience, but also for how his work provided a way to pursue his love for genealogy. He described his work as “Creatography, Imagineering, and Familyology.”

He also had a love for writing and had self-published two books and was planning to work on the third, fourth, and fifth books. His dream was to publish his Rocket Handbook story and someday see it made into a movie. He was extremely creative and had a quick mind for words, stories, and jokes.

He was very funny and loved to make people smile. He was first to help whenever he saw a need and found joy in serving others. It was very frustrating for him when his health interfered with his ability to help. He was first diagnosed with breast cancer at age 38 in the fall of 2011. He and Michelle found research and journaling eased some of the weight and so they began documenting their experiences. Their story inspired others and they began to be involved in organizations dedicated to increasing awareness of and research for male breast cancer. They met and befriended many wonderful people along the way and inspired many others. Alan was the official spokesperson for male breast cancer in the state of Utah and an active advocate for early detection and research. He often expressed his awe at the outpouring of love and support for him and his family by people from church, the community, and even strangers. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him and every life he touched.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 21, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the Legacy Park Stake Center, 2024 South 1475 W., Syracuse.  Friends may visit family Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.  Interment, Syracuse City Cemetery.