James Dell Gordon

On the beautiful autumn day of November 14, 2025, the Honorable James Dell Gordon, died at the age of 82 in the home of his beloved daughter and in the arms of his loving family. Dell was born on July 22, 1943, in Albuquerque, NM to Jack Allen and Clarice Gordon.

The Gordons have called Oklahoma, home, since the first of the family arrived by covered wagon during the land run of 1889. Soon after Dell’s birth, the family left New Mexico and made their way to Oklahoma City, settling in Britton township area.

Dell graduated from John Marshall High School in 1961, earned his BA from the University of Oklahoma in 1965, and completed his studies with his Judicial Doctorate from OU Law School in 1968. He worked his way through school as a houseboy for the Chi Omega sorority, a DJ for KGOU, and loading carbon black for the Conoco refinery in Ponca City. While at OU, he met his future wife, Mary Lu, and her two sons, Kevin and Kent. They secretly married in August of 1962, began living together, and had a public ceremony the following year. While in law school, Mary Lu and the boys lived for a time in Ponca City while Mary Lu taught at Northern Oklahoma Junior College, and Dell would hop freight trains from Norman to spend the weekends with his family. After passing the OKlahoma State Bar, Dell and his family moved to Oklahoma City, and on August 14, 1969, they welcomed twin daughters, Tracy Helen and Kelley Claire, into the world and their family.

He was a founding attorney for the Oklahoma Crime Commission and an Assistant District Attorney before going into private practice. But his aspiration was always to the bench, and he was eventually appointed by George W. Bush to the Federal Administrative Court of Appeals where he adjudicated for the Social Security Administration as well as the Medicare and Medicaid Administration, the position from which he retired in 2019.

Dell embraced the fashions of the ‘70’s; sporting a hard won beard for a brief time, wearing flare bottom jeans, beaded fringed leather vests, and outrageous sunglasses. He and Mary Lu honeymooned at, and frequently returned to, Taos and Santa Fe New Mexico, at one time owning a cabin in Taos, where the family enjoyed many vacations together. They loved collecting artwork, and every piece came with a story; from friends they had made, times they spent together, or the ordeal of getting them home. Above all and through all of life’s challenges, Dell and Mary Lu loved each other with a depth of passion beyond the power of words to describe. They were each other’s soul mate, each the perfect spiritual compliment to the other that not even the grave could separate.

Dell was a compassionate and loving father to his four children and a devoted husband to Mary Lu. He was at his happiest with his family gathered around the dining table, eating, laughing, and arguing. If tempers flared, he would inevitably make some wisecrack to relieve the tension. He was a passionate aficionado of exotic cars and owned several Italian, German, and British classics. He loved jazz and would force feed his children on Miles Davis, Errol Gardner, Art Blakey, and so many others. Dell and Mary Lu’s kindness, humor, good taste, and love of life will be sorely missed on this plane of existence, but oh what a boon for the next!

Dell is survived by his children, Kevin Dell and wife, Janice Mathews-Gordon; Kent Tracewell and wife, Rebecca Cooper Gordon; Tracy Helen Spanier and husband, Tom Spanier; and Kelley Claire Mayhall and husband, Kent Mayhall. Grandchildren: Tracewell Mathews Gordon and wife, Agata Gordon; Elise Irene Miranda-Gordon and husband Lou Miranda-Gordon; Genevieve Rebecca Gordon and Liliana Katherine Gordon; Mary Sarah Spanier, Joseph John Sumner (Jack) Spanier, and John Paul Spanier. Great Grandchildren: Luka Marian Gordon and Adeline Marie Gordon.

The third of four siblings, Dell is survived by younger brother Robert Gordon and husband, Jesse Romo, and many loving nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his amazing wife, Mary Lu, his older brother, Jack Allen Gordon, and older sister, Elizabeth Jane Ogle.

A memorial service will take place at noon on Saturday, December 20th at The Clark Building located at 16 NE 2nd Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104. Dell enjoyed nothing more than sharing time, food, spirits, and music with his family and friends. In that same spirit, food and beverages will be provided immediately following the service. Please stay, gather, and enjoy the 360-degree rooftop views of our beautiful downtown — the place where both Dell and MaryLu spent much of their adult lives working, laughing, and living fully.