Mariruth Jordan's Obituary
Mary Ruth Jordan, age 84, of rural Chanute passed away Thursday, March 20, 2025 surrounded by family & friends at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center.
Mary was born on October 18, 1940 in Weir, KS, the daughter of Clyde and Jessie (Allred) O’Neal. Though her legal name was Mariruth, she became known and loved by all, as simply Mary. She was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Weir and later became a member of Westview Southern Baptist Church in Chanute. She attended schools in the Weir School System and graduated from Weir High School in 1958. After graduation, she worked at Harry’s Cafe in Pittsburg, Kansas for a year and half, where she met the love of her life. Jerry D Jordan and Mary R O’Neal were united in marriage at Weir, Kansas on January 31, 1960. They would spend the next 59 1⁄2 years together until Jerry’s passing in November of 2019.
After Harry’s Cafe, Mary spent the next several years growing her family. As the family grew older, Mary started driving school buses for USD #413. She drove route buses in the area and took many activity trips in her 33-year career with the Chanute School System.
During the summer months she taught swimming lessons at the Chanute Public Pool for both the pool and Tri Valley Developmental Service. She was a Red Cross certified BSI and taught for over 35 years.
Mary and her faithful horse, Bud, were a regular feature at many area parades and festivals. The duo were known as Carousel Carriage Rides and gave thousands of rides to patrons over the course of a quarter century before they retired. With her husband Jerry they ran a small farm raising mules, horses, cattle, and crops. She also bred and sold Siamese cats for many years.
Mary is survived by 2 brothers, Patrick of Neodesha, and George Keith (Thelma) of Parsons, and a sister Peggy Hunt of Franklin; Three sons, Jeff of Lyndeborough, NH, Doug (Mara) of Galesburg, and Jerry Wayne of Chanute, one daughter Brenda (Mike Winter) of Riley, KS; Six grandchildren Mikayla, Brittni, Jessi, and Mavrick Winter; Rilee and Wyatt Jordan, and one great grandson Riggin Jordan-Fletcher; as well as Michael Letterman a bonus son. Her life was always blessed with frequent visits from the beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins from the union of two very large families, all of whom will miss her dearly. Mary’s family was the center of her very busy life. She enjoyed outdoor activities and excelled at gardening, gathering fruits and nuts, harvesting berries, and was an outstanding angler. Her love of nature can also be attributed to many of her interests such as snow skiing, camping, trail riding, and trips to the beach.
Mary was a long-time member of the Chanute Saddle Club, where she was instrumental in operating the cook shack for many years as well as a rider on the drill team. As age made horseback riding more difficult for Mary, she learned to drive horses and began a whole new adventure with her beloved horse Bud.
In addition to her husband Jerry, she was preceded in death by her parents Clyde and Jessie and older sister Alice Ann Maxwell.
The family will greet friends on Thursday, March 27, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Countryside Funeral Home 101 N Highland. Funeral services will be Friday, March 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the Westview Southern Baptist Church in Chanute. Cremation will take place after the service.
The family suggests memorials be made in honor of her grandchildren to the FFA Chapters at the schools they attended, Chanute High School and Riley County High School. They can also be made to Westview Baptist Church, or the Chanute Bit and Spur Saddle Club.
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