R. Alan Blood, of Syracuse, UT, 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 on February 16, 1973, in Seattle, Washington, to Robert Michael and Anita Marian Blood and was raised in Everett, WA. He has three younger sisters, Colleen Campbell of Westfield, IN, Karina Clarkson of Mesa, AZ, and Elissa Blood of Everett, WA, and numerous nieces and nephews. He received his Eagle Scout Award at age 14 in 1987. He graduated from Cascade High School in 1991 where he excelled in art classes and biology. He also attended Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, WA. 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, from 1992-94, 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, UT. 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 and would describe their 20 year marriage as the best years of his life that brought him great joy. 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, WA, for ten years before the family relocated to Utah. He worked as a UX Design Manager for FamilySearch.org in Salt Lake City, UT, for the past ten years. 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, stage 2b, at age 38 in the fall of 2011. After treatment, he was in remission for three years until the fall of 2015, when he was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. 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 were held on Friday, October 21, 2016, at the Legacy Park Stake Center in Syracuse Interment, Syracuse City Cemetery. There will be a memorial service for local friends and family on Saturday, November 19, 2016, at 2 p.m. at the Mill Creek Ward, 11925 29th Ave SE, Everett, WA 98208. Please share memories of your association with Alan and any pictures you would like to share to: [email protected]