Obituary of Ray Jordan

Ray Neal Jordan, Sr., the son of Riley and Marie (Jones) Jordan, was born in Bonham, Texas, on November 15, 1935. He spent his childhood years in Encinitas, CA, and graduated from San Dieguito High School in 1954, and joined the Air force that summer. He spent 20 years in the United States Air Force serving his country in California, Alaska, Texas, Virginia, Wyoming, New Jersey and France before retiring in 1974. While living in France, Ray furthered his education taking French language courses. Following his retirement from the service, Ray moved to Colorado and began a second career in dry wall construction. He worked in Colorado, California and Iowa and retired in 1997. Following their marriage, Ray and Donna traveled to California where Ray was stationed at Vandenberg AFB. After a year there, he was reassigned to Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage AK. During their three years in Alaska, their daughter, Betty, was born. Ray's next assignment was Langley AFB in Virginia, where their son, Neal, was born. When Ray retired from the Air Force in 1974, they moved to Colorado Springs CO where Ray got into the drywall construction business with his brother, Bob. Later they moved to Loveland CO, where Ray and Bob continued working in the drywall business for the next 10 years. Then Ray moved his family to California where he could enjoy fishing and the beach – pleasures he remembered from his childhood. After a four year stay in California, Ray and Donna moved to Hartley IA and bought a small acreage. Donna took an accounting job in Everly, IA, and Ray worked part time in construction. Ray enjoyed working around the acreage, planting a garden, watching the wildlife, doing the mowing, and plowing snow. He and Neal built a new garage there. After 14 years, Ray and Donna moved into town, and Donna retired. They enjoyed retirement together, and still loved to travel. Ray was a member of the Hartley United Methodist Church, Arthur Kirchoff American Legion Post #288 of Hartley, and the Gold Prospectors Association of America. He loved going hunting, fishing, and camping with his children as they grew up. In later years he took annual trips to California to go deep sea fishing with his brother John. His hobbies included woodworking, gold panning, reading western novels, and genealogy. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Donna; his five children: Eric Jordan and his wife, Naik, of Benodet, France, Harry Jordan and his wife, Annie, of Torreilles, France, Caroline Jordan of Park City, UT, Betty Steeves of Hartley, IA and Neal Jordan of Hartley, IA; a brother John Jordan and his wife Betty of Big Fork, MT; three sisters: Cora Muilenburg of Hartley, IA, Kathleen Wright and her husband Daniel, of Sioux falls, SD, and Lois Garner and her husband Delbert, of Smartsville, CA; six grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Eugene, William and Bobby; and a sister: Francis Course A Celebration of Life Ray N. Jordan, Sr. Born ~ November 15, 1935 Died ~ December 20, 2010 Age ~ 75 years 1 month 5 days Memorial Service 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 23, 2010 United Methodist Church Hartley, Iowa Officiating ~ Rev. Steve Campbell Organist ~ Bonnie Linder Congregational Singing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” #140 “Because He Lives” #364 “In The Garden” #314 “Amazing Grace” #378 Honorary Pallbearers Harry Jordan Eric Jordan Neal Jordan John Jordan Trumpeter Fred Wittrock Military Honors Arthur Kirchoff American Legion Post #288 Hartley, Iowa Interment Sloan Cemetery Sloan, Iowa (At a later date)