Shirley Jeanne Jordan

Shirley J. (Morger) Jordan, 4th generation native of Fort Collins, left for her journey down the Yellow Brick Road and Over the Rainbow on her way to meet her maker as she finished her time here on earth. The Wizard of Oz was her favorite movie and The Yellow Brick Road, partially written by her oldest son and recorded by Chris La Deau, was her favorite song.

Shirley was the oldest of four children born to Melvin Morger and Undine E. Barnhart Morger in 1933. She attended grade school at #10 school on W. Laporte Ave., Lincoln Junior High (now the Lincoln Center), and Fort Collins High School (the only high school in Fort Collins at that time). Two of her children also graduated from there as well as her father. She had some of her father's teachers. Her mother graduated from Cache La Poudre High in Laporte, Colorado.

She worked for Walgreens Drug and a local doctor's office during her high school days, as well as Mountain Bell Telephone for four years. Later she worked at Farmer and Rancher Commission Company and then moved on to the Poudre Valley Ambulance Department where she worked for 25 years. She rode the street car and bus to school. Swam in the irrigation ditch that goes through Grandview Cemetery. Ice-skated and roller skated at Club Tico and Pappy's Skating Rink on Richards Lake Road after learning to sake and bike ride on the smooth pavement near the entrance to Grandview Cemetery on Mountain Avenue. She and her siblings rode horses to town and in the 4th of July parade. She had a great childhood in the country. Rt. 4 Box 6 was the address and the telephone number was 1669-W.

Shirley met her husband of 44 years, Henry (Hank) Jordan in Fort Collins. They had four children. They farmed on E. Vine for 25 years and she worked along with her husband in the field while continuing her job. She dispatched the Timnath Rural Fire Department on a CB radio also in the 70's. She especially liked to bale hay and cultivate corn. They also raised cattle, hogs and chickens. She hung her wash on the clothesline everyday. The railroad men who worked for BN would bet to see who would buy coffee the next morning as to whether or not she had her clothes on the line. A great life on the farm! She was one of 2 dispatchers at the Larmier County Sheriff's Office during the Big Thompson flood. She was a room mother for all four of her children and took baby pigs, lambs, chickens, etc. to school for show-and-tell. Quite an experience. She always had great meals, lots of company and had lots of good memories on the farm. She excelled in all she did and accomplished much. She participated in the children's school activities and her home was always open to other children. During the summer some of the guest children didn't go home for weeks as they enjoyed staying at her house.

The family moved to Waverly, Colorado and farmed there for 15 years while Shirley continued on with her work at PVH.

She and her husband loved to Polka dance and she clogged for many years as well. She raised flowers and was Grand Champion for several years at the Larimer County Fair in Loveland and Cheyenne, Wyoming. She was a great crafter: painted and made homemade greeting cards. Shirley always had a beautiful yard and garden. She retired from PVH in 1997 when her husband became ill. He passed away in 1998.

Shirley then did volunteer work at the food bank and for several other groups before accepting the position as Process Server for several attorneys which she held until recently. She was very brave and loved that job also. She was happy being busy and a very honest person. Anyone could rely on her for help and she did help a lot of people both young and old for which she was very proud.

She was raised a Baptist and raised her children in the church also. They never missed a Sunday in over two years back in the days. Shirley was preceded in death by her mother, father, grandparents, and great-grandparents, Mary Ann and Walter Dixon, who came to Colorado in 1887 from England. They moved to a canyon which is now known as Dixon Canyon and Dixon Lake. Shirley's entire family is buried at Grandview Cemetery, including her father's great, great, great uncle Lt. Col. W.O. Collins, the founder of Fort Collins, her son Jerald Jay (Jerry), and her husband Hank. She is survived by 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 3 great-granddaughters. A special granddaughter, Hannah, daughter of Jon and Maija Jordan of Wellington was her pride and joy. She had a special nephew, Randy Duvall of Haxton, Colorado, and many cousins.

She was a giver not a taker. A truer friend you could never find. She will be missed but not forgotten on her journey down the Yellow Brick Road. No service at her request. A greater life never lived!