Ray Armstrong Jordan

The funeral will be live-streamed here (the recording of the live-stream will be available after the funeral at the same link).

       Almost a year to the day after the love of his life passed away Ray Armstrong Jordan, age 88, was able to join his wife on 16 January 2024.
    Ray Jordan, the youngest child of Alfred and Hilda Jordan was born on 14 November 1935 in Murray, Utah. Except for the first four years of his life, Ray grew up on 897 Vine St. in Murray.
    His honorable parents taught him there was a God in Heaven who loved him. They also taught him the virtues of hard work, service, and a love for God’s creations which he passed on to his children.                
    He served a 30 month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to New Zealand. Along with regular proselyting he helped with the electrical work on the first New Zealand temple and served as a branch president.
    Upon returning home in 1959, Ray served in the United States Army and was stationed in Virginia. That was where a farm boy from Utah met a beauty from Rhode Island. Ray and Jacqueline (Jackie) Gladue were married in the Salt Lake Temple on 7 June 1960.
    After marriage he returned to Virginia where he finished out his military service. Afterwards he worked in the Colonial town of Williamsburg, Virginia as a guide and bookbinder. While there he was called to serve again as a branch president.
    In 1961 he moved his family to Utah where he earned his teaching degree from Brigham Young University. His first teaching assignment was working for the Church Education System (CES) as Supervisor in the north-central area as seminary teacher. This assignment covered North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Winnipeg, Canada, and the Twin Cities of Minnesota. He later became CES Institute Director of religious classes at the University of Minneapolis. His final assignment brought him to the Uintah Basin where he was Director of the Institute program in Roosevelt and Vernal. He retired in 1996 after which he and Jackie served a CES mission to Ireland.
    His passion was teaching and he used every opportunity to teach important truths. One of those truths was that there was joy in living the gospel. He taught thousands of people while serving as a missionary, during his church callings, and throughout his many decades as an institute teacher. He loved meeting and teaching the youth while working at the Vernal Temple baptistry.
    His service extended “behind the scenes” by donating literally tons of produce from his fruit trees and garden, plus canned goods to local families and the food pantry. For years he sent out monthly inspirational cards to ward members and  friends. He made and sent out homemade birthday and anniversary cards to all his family. He bought toys all year round to donate to the Sub for Santa program. Beside all of the material giving, there was the fervent prayers on behalf of his family, friends, missionaries, world leaders, church leaders, and yes, even his enemies.
    He also loved to pack up his family and camping gear and travel around the United States. One year he took his family on a 72-day camping trip to the east coast. He enjoyed the traditional holidays and went all out. His favorite was Christmas where he could combine two passions, model trains and family time.
    He was a wonderful example. He epitomized commitment to God, family and country. He served the Lord faithfully his whole life and taught his children and grandchildren to do the same. The greatest gift given to his family was the knowledge of and more importantly the “hope” that comes from knowing their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! And the knowledge that  Ray and Jackie are now reunited and in His loving embrace.
    He is survived by his children, Jane Wilkerson (Bruce) of Lockbourne, Ohio; James Gladue Jordan (Janet) of Salt Lake City, Utah; Julie Jones (Barton) of Duchesne, Utah; Aaron Armstrong Jordan (Julie) of Moroni, Utah; Faithann Karatassos (Harry) of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania; Benjamin Ray Jordan (Michelle) of Laie, Hawaii; Heather Barney (Craig) of Vernal, Utah. 38 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren.   

    He is preceded in death by his wife, Jacqueline, his parents, and siblings.
    Funeral services will be 26 January 2024 at the Ballard Chapel on Hwy 40 at 11:00 a.m. following a viewing starting at 9:30.
    Burial will be in the Roosevelt Memorial Park with military honors presented by the Roosevelt American Legion and the Utah National Guard.