Norma Jean Jordan's Obituary
Norma Jean (Garrison) Jordan passed away peacefully at home on January 7, 2019 at the age of 85. Norma was born on October 22, 1933 in Rogers County, Oklahoma to Jacob Fulton Garrison and Minerva (Leach) Garrison. She was the youngest surviving sibling in the family and loved being the “fourth of four” sisters. Norma spent her young childhood on the family farm in Rogers County, OK until 1939 when they moved to Altus, OK because her father got a job with the railroad. Norma married Jake Albert Jordan on May 2, 1953 in Snyder, OK. They lived briefly in Dallas, TX and Channelview, TX before buying a house in Mesquite, TX. They lived in that house for the rest of their lives where they raised three sons: Jacob Paul, Royce Gene, and Brently Keith. Jake and Norma were married for 58 years until his death in March 2012. Across the street from their house was Florence Elementary School where Norma worked as a crossing guard for 47 years. She loved her job and rarely missed a day even when her health began to decline. Jake and Norma were members of Casa View Church of Christ (now Meadowview Church of Christ) from its earliest days, and they remained members there until their deaths. Norma taught the four-year-old Bible class at church for decades and is fondly remembered by generations of students for her songs, contests, and impressive flannelgraph collection. The words typically used to describe Norma were hard-working, resourceful, steadfast, and faithful. She showed tremendous strength throughout her life and has often been lovingly referred to as a “force to be reckoned with”. Norma also had a mischievous side. She enjoyed a good practical joke and a little bit of sass, and she was quite competitive. She loved animals, books, watching Little House on the Prairie, working in her yard, playing 42, and mercilessly defeating her grandchildren at Sorry and Monopoly. Above all, she loved God, and she impressed on her children and grandchildren the importance of always putting God first and trusting Him in everything they did. Norma did not live a big, exciting life by society’s standards, but her life is proof of how great an impact a person can have when she joyfully and faithfully does the small, ordinary things day by day. She was well-loved and will be missed tremendously.Norma is survived by her sons: Paul (Doris) Jordan, Royce (JoAnne) Jordan, and Brent (Sharon-Marie) Jordan; grandchildren: Sarah (Aaron) Turner, Thomas (Velvet) Jordan, Amber Gott, Stephanie Jordan, Amanda (Steve) VanHaitsma, and Melanie (Scott) Lancaster; and ten great-grandchildren. Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Jake Jordan; parents, Jacob and Minerva Garrison; brothers William Garrison, Thomas Garrison, John Garrison, and Jacob Garrison; and sisters: Alice Lovely, Margie Birdwell, and Betty Gibson VanHooserVisitation will take place on Thursday, January 10, 2019 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Restland Funeral Home.Funeral arrangements for Norma Jean Jordan have been faithfully entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery, which is located at 13005 Greenville Ave., at the intersection of Restland Road, Dallas, Texas 75243, and can be reached at (972) 238-7111.
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