Memorials to SMART-TD members who died on the job in 2015

Ryan D. Edwards

Ryan D. Edwards, 27, of Schererville, Ind. was fatally injured July 25 while performing switching operations at Canadian National Markham Yard in Homewood, Ill. Edwards (Local 1299 of Schererville, Ind.) hired out in August of 2011. Throughout his carer with the railroad, Edwards worked as an intermodal operator at BNSF and as a freight train conductor at both CSX and CN. While at CSX, Edwards graduated number one from his training class. Edwards attended Columbia College in Chicago. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and could often be seen wearing a Cardinals hat. Edwards married his wife, Victoria, May 22, 2010 and welcomed her two children, Edward and Emily, as his own. They later welcomed his son Ryan “RJ” into their family. He loved his family tremendously. Edwards leaves behind wife, Victoria; their three children Emily, Edward and Ryan; his parents Nicole and John; his siblings Scottie, Tyra and Joshua; his great grandmother; grandparents and many other friends and family.

Troy J. Jordan

Troy J. Jordan, 49, of Shawnee, Kansas died when he was struck by a train while working on Union Pacific property in Kansas City, Kan. Sept. 29, 2015. After high school, Jordan graduated from Central Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Jordan hired out with Union Pacific railroad in 2008 and became a member of SMART Transportation Division Local 1403 (Kansas City, Mo.) that same year. Jordan was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Parish and was proud of his Irish heritage. Jordan leaves behind his wife of nine years Dorothy, children McKinsey, Tyler, Shannon, Emilee, Brianna Smith, Tori (Grant) Frazier, parents Bobbie and Joe, grandchildren Brooklynn Smith, Tucker Smith, Kinadee Frazier and Carson Frazier.