Jason Blasdel was known by his family and friends as an intelligent, kind and quiet bull rider.
On July 7, Blasdel competed in the Platte River Rodeo Association's Rodeo, in Saratoga, Wyo. It would be his last. Both of his lungs were punctured after a bull mauled him against a fence.
"I’d like to really just stress that he was just one of the perfect sons to me," Joe Blasdel, his father, told Next by phone. "He helped everybody that needed help. He was very quiet but very well-disciplined."
Jason is survived by his wife and two young children. He was born and raised in Fruita, Colo., and started bull riding at a young age with his dad.
"This would have been his last year because he was just trying to play around a little bit his last year and ride for the state of Colorado," Joe Blasdel said.
He describes his son as quiet, but says that people could tell what he was thinking without him saying a word.
"If Jason looked at you and grinned, he just had something in there and you knew what he was thinking," Joe Blasdel said.
He describes his son as handy and capable - a guy who could do anything he set his mind to. His dad says friends and family would often utter "just do it Jason's way" when it came to just about anything.
A memorial was held in Grand Junction. People came from all over to celebrate Jason Blasdel's life.
"We laid him to rest with cowboy prayer," Joe Blasdel said. "I got a sign, 'Welcome to heaven, Cowboy, your entry fees are paid.'"
Jason has a memorial fund set up through Wells Fargo Bank in his name for people who want to contribute.
