Jordan, James Merritt

James Merritt Jordan, 98, a resident of Bickford Cottage, Marion, died Monday, April 18, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday, April 23, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, by the Rev. Dr. Bob Kunz. The family will greet friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial: Jordan's Grove Cemetery, Central City, Iowa.

Survivors include his children, three sons, Kenneth (Wilhelmina), Lloyd (Shirley) both of Marion, and John (Sharon) of Naples, Fla.; two daughters, Garnet Warren of Marion, and Judy (James) Kotrba of Itasca, Ill.; 18 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great grandchildren; and two nieces.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Avalda; sisters, Isabelle Maxson and Wilma Lowe; and a daughter, Carol Mentzer Mullinex.

James was born March 7, 1913, the son of Sumner and Ethel (Merritt) Jordan, on the family farm northeast of Marion, Iowa. He married his high school sweetheart, Avalda Willis on Oct. 10, 1932, in Galena, Ill. She died June 6, 1991. James farmed until going to work for Happel & Sons in Cedar Rapids, retiring in 1975. He was a wonderful man, husband, father and grandfather.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Bickford Cottage for the care that James received over the past two years.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Linn County 4-H Spirit Scholarship fund. James was a great supporter of 4-H through his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Please sign the online guest book for James at under obituaries.