Thomas Jordan

Thomas Raymond Jordan, Sr.

            Thomas Raymond Jordan, Sr., 86, of Missoula, passed away on Monday, February 12, 2024, at Beehive Homes Assisted Living, after battling Parkinson’s and Dementia.

            He was born on March 16, 1937, in Plymouth, IN, to COL Herbert A. Jordan and Marguerite Colip. Being born into a military family and eventually serving 22 years in the U.S. Army himself, he lived in many places including Indiana, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Kansas, Georgia, Kentucky, California, New York, Pennsylvania, Montana, Puerto Rico, Germany, Thailand, and Vietnam.

            On April 28, 1961 this Yankee married the love of his life and southern Georgia peach, Patricia Ann Burnes. Having a Northerner and a Southerner in the same house made for many funny and interesting moments. Tom and Pat would have three children, all born on different continents.

            He joined Freemasonry, becoming a Master Mason in 1971 in Monterey Lodge #217, Monterey, CA. Upon moving to Missoula he joined Sentinel Lodge #155, becoming Master of the Lodge in 1983, and eventually becoming the Grand Master for the State of Montana in 1998-1999. He held membership in the Taipei Bodies Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, 33^rd Degree and was a noble in Algeria Temple. He was also dedicated to the Masonic youth organizations including DeMolay, Rainbow for Girls, and Jobs Daughters. He earned his 50-year recognition in 2021 with the Grand Lodges of California, Montana, and the Taipei Bodies Scottish Rite.

Due to his service in Thailand and Vietnam he became the fourth consecutive generation of combat-veteran in the family which includes his father’s service in World War II, his grandfather’s service in the Spanish-American War, and his great-grandfather’s service in the Prussian cavalry during the Franco-Prussian War.

            In March 1974, he was assigned to Fort Missoula, responsible for conducting personnel security interviews in the western 13 counties of Montana. The family lived on the fort in House #33 on Officers Row until April 1975 when the family moved to the south side of Missoula where the family home remains today. He was one of the last active-duty members assigned to Fort Missoula and retired from service in July 1977.

            Upon retiring from the military, he embarked on a second career as a real estate agent and broker in Missoula that would span more than 30 years, working for Westland, Century 21, ReMax, and eventually for himself as Jordan Real Estate.

            He is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia (2005) and his brother Herbert A. Jordan, Jr. (2020). He is survived by his brother Doug Jordan, Denver, CO; brother Steve Jordan, Denver, CO; sister Georgeanne Sohmer, Hamden, CT; sister Mary Kay Canfield; brother Michael Farrell; son Thomas R. Jordan, Jr. (Lisa), Mesa, AZ; son Jeffrey A. Jordan (Anna), Arlington, VA; daughter Cristina L. Jordan (Sue), Marysville, WA; and seven grandchildren.

            Funeral will be held at 1pm, Saturday, 17 February 2024, Garden City Funeral Home, Missoula, MT. Service will include Masonic funeral rites, military honors, and lite refreshments following. Interment will occur the following week at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery.