Francis Victor Jordan II

Mulhearn Funeral Home

Rayville, LA

     Services for Francis Victor Jordan II, 92, of Rayville, LA, will be held on Monday, November 21, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., at the Church of the Redeemer in Oak Ridge, with The Reverend Christie S. Fleming officiating. Interment will follow at the Church of the Redeemer in Oak Ridge, LA.    

     Mr. Jordan died on Friday, November 18, 2022 at West Monroe Guest House Rehabilitation Center in West Monroe.

     Mr. Jordan was born on June 21, 1930 in Monroe, LA.  His parents were John Thomas Jordan, Sr. and Frances Amelia Benton Jordan Woolf.  He was awarded the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout, during his freshman year while attending Oak Ridge High School.  He was a member of the Class of 1948 at Rayville High School, which was the last graduating class in the state of Louisiana required to complete only eleven grades.  Mr. Jordan was initiated in the Gamma Alpha Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order; his grandfather, Dr. Francis Victor Jordan, and father, John Thomas Jordan, Sr., had also been a member of the fraternity as well as his brother, John Thomas Jordan, Jr., two sons, Francis Victor Jordan III and Christopher Allen Jordan, and grandson, Francis Victor Jordan IV and ten other family members.  He received a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Agriculture in 1952 from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA.  He served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict.  On December 30, 1952, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Sue Gryder, and they had four children.  He was the fifth generation of his family to farm their land, Trio Plantation, which was established in 1841 in Richland Parish by his great, great grandfather, Dr. Harrison Jordan.  While farming in Mississippi, he was presented the award for the farmer who yielded the most cotton in the state of Mississippi in 1963 and 1964.  This planter was a member of St. David’s Episcopal Church and had served as Senior Warden of the vestry several terms.  He was a past president of Farm Bureau.  Mr. Jordan served on the board for the Production Credit Association for thirty-seven years and later chaired that board.  He was a board member for First Republic Bank for twenty-three years; First Republic Bank is now Cadence Bank.  Mr. Jordan’s community involvement also included:  Master Mason, North American Sheep Club, Safari International Club, Shriner, and the Sons of the American Revolution.  He enjoyed the outdoors and was a big game hunter and fisherman.  His trophy room exhibits numerous animals from around the world such as Africa, Canada, South America, Mexico and throughout the west.  One of his greatest hunting achievements was to kill two grand slams, which consisted of four North American sheep.  He was an avid reader and jogger, and was affectionately known as “Poppy” to his seven grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.   

     He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Sue Gryder Jordan; daughter, Helen Elizabeth Jordan Barthel; parents, John Thomas Jordan, Sr., and Frances Amelia Benton Jordan Woolf; and son-in-law, William Farris Barthel, Jr.; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law:  Major and Mrs. Robert Joe Gryder, Dale Douglas Gryder, Sr. and Malcolm Ray Bishop.

     Survivors include his three children:  Francis Victor Jordan III and his wife, Mary Eileen Jordan of Rayville, LA; Christopher Allen Jordan of Oak Ridge, LA, and Amelia Grace Jordan of West Monroe, LA. Special Friend:  Leah Anne Puckett Flynn. Grandchildren:  Vic’s family: Virginia O’Hara Jordan McLin and her husband, Ryan Benjamin McLin, Emily Grace Jordan Ressman and her husband, Eric James Ressman, Francis Victor Jordan IV, and his wife, Amanda Leigh Hebert Jordan; Allen’s family: Megan Duvall Jordan Gately, and her husband, Paul Jackman (P.J.) Gately, Christopher Allen Jordan II, and Heather Marie Pompa, John Robinson Hammett and his wife, Amanda Kaye (Mandy) Hammett, and Jeb Stuart Hammett and his wife, Lisa Celina Munoz Hammett; Liz’s family: Mary Elizabeth Barthel and Leonard Wade McMillan, Abigail Frances Barthel Hays and her husband, William Hunter Hays.  Great grandchildren: Vic’s family:  Adelaide Elizabeth McLin, Sara Frances McLin, Graceleigh Rose Ressman, Casper James Ressman, Harper Mae Jordan, Camille Marquerite Jordan, Francis Victor Jordan V (Quin); Allen’s family:  Connor Paul Owen, Grayson Allen Lovera, Landon Michael Lovera, Hudson Jackman Gately, Roxanne Marie Jordan; Liz’s family: Sadie Elizabeth Morton, David Wade McMillan, Sutton Frances Hays.  Brother:  John Thomas Jordan, Jr. and his wife, Alice Ann Adkins Jordan, of Rayville, LA. Sisters-in-law: Sally Ann O’Rear Gryder of Homer, LA and Sandra Jean Gryder Bishop of Tallulah, LA; Nieces and nephews:  Katherine Rachel Jordan Foster and her husband, Wade, and their children:  Lindsay Katherine Foster and Madison Ann Foster; Robert Spencer Gryder, Cherryl Ester Gryder, Dale Douglas Gryder II and his wife, Laura, Sarah Adeline Gryder, Gregory Wade Bishop and his wife, Brenda; Amanda Kaye Bishop Massey and her husband, Don, and Mary Beth Bishop Dickerson and her husband, Michael.       

       Pallbearers will be Thomas West Barham, Robert Jocelyn Barham, Guy Daniel Pardue, Jesse Lynn Smith, William Langston Yancey III and Fred Scott Franklin.  Honorary Pallbearers will be:  Dr. Ronald Collins Hubbard, Sr. and the Trio Team.

     Visitation will be at the Church of the Redeemer in Oak Ridge, LA, from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 21, 2022.

  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. David’s Episcopal Church in Rayville, LA, Church of the Redeemer in Oak Ridge, LA, The Amelia Grace Jordan Cotton Blossom College Scholarship (c/o 312 Kendall Ridge Drive, West Monroe, LA 71292), The Liz Jordan Barthel Memorial Scholarship (c/o BOW, Inc., Liz Fund, Post Office Box 1026, Stevens Point, WI  54481), or the charity of your choice.