Melvin C. Jordan

January 18, 1926-April 19, 2022

Posted 4/21/22

What a wonderful, blessed life, not without its heartbreak and disappointments, but one with an amazing abundance of love. Melvin Jordan earned his heavenly wings on Tuesday April 19, 2022. He had …

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Melvin C. Jordan

January 18, 1926-April 19, 2022

Posted

What a wonderful, blessed life, not without its heartbreak and disappointments, but one with an amazing abundance of love. Melvin Jordan earned his heavenly wings on Tuesday April 19, 2022. He had enjoyed a glorious Easter weekend surrounded by his family’s love and laughter. What a blessing!
Melvin was born January 18, 1926 in Katy and spent his entire life in the place he loved. He was a true son of Katy. He leaves this earthly life to be reunited with his beloved wife, Bertye, of 74 years and sons Steve and Marc.
Melvin and Bertye created a legacy overwhelming with love and friendship. Their home was constantly filled with family and friends, love, laughter AND good food. Nothing made him happier than being surrounded by loved ones . . . big and small. He would constantly tell people “My family makes me the most blessed man in Katy”. He was so proud of his family members- currently 63 and counting! He was an energetic and active supporter of his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren at every event or ballgame. He and Bertye were in the stands as often as possible and followed them all over Texas to be their proud supporters. At 94, in failing health and suffering from loss of sight, he traveled over four hours to an event one final time for his presence to be felt by a great grandson- a treasured moment!
He loved the Katy community and was always ready to lend a helping hand. His vivid memory of Katy history and families was incredible-he would tell stories of the town and people he loved. He could (and did) talk for hours about life in Katy and the Jordan farm. And the same story might be retold more than once as he grew older but the memory of those times never failed him.
Melvin’s faith was steadfast through good times as well as the difficult times. As he faced the loss of his wife and sons, two floods and the loss of his ability to care for himself after his 2017 stroke, his faith never wavered. One of our favorite quotes from him was “The Lord said there would be days like this but I just didn’t think there would be so many”. His bible lay open on his desk as he started each day reading a scripture and even when his eyesight diminished and he became more debilitative he never lost his faith or fighting spirit.
He was a man of great integrity and his word was his bond-even when farming fell on terribly hard times. Melvin began farming and ranching at a very young age with his father, H.E. “Hank” Jordan. He worked alongside his brothers, Chester and Leonard, enjoying an extremely close relationship. He and his sister Blanche enjoyed laughable and special times. His mother, Olga, held precious memories for him and life on the farm. What a joyous reunion in Heaven it will be!
His rice farm was a labor of love but his cattle operations were his great joy and pleasure. He and his son Steve enjoyed every minute of “cattle time”. In his younger years he and his brother Leonard enjoyed rodeo and roping; in his later years, he just enjoyed riding his horse along the Katy prairie, where he said he felt close to God.
He was a beloved member of the Katy community having never met a stranger and never failing to lend a helping hand. When a car would pull into the farm drive out of gas or with other car trouble, he did whatever he could to assist them back on their way, never expecting anything in return.
He loved his farm and dearly loved serving on the boards of Brookshire Drying and the American Rice Growers Cooperative, including a stint as president. And for many years, he was also an active board member of American Rice Inc. He served on the Katy Chamber of Commerce and First United Methodist Church boards, where he and Bertye served as youth leaders for the Methodist youth groups.
He was the coach of one of Katy’s first organized baseball teams, the Katy Kats, and throughout his life shared many beloved stories of those games and the young men that meant so much to him.
He was a proud Honorary Member of the Katy FFA where he was active many years earlier as a student and later as a proud father of his sons’ FFA projects and his FFA Sweetheart daughter. And, in even later years, he watched proudly as several grandsons, a granddaughter, great grandsons, a great granddaughter and great niece participated in FFA projects, attained a state-wide FFA office or earned a national FFA championship.
For many years he, along with other Katy-area men were actively involved in barbecuing for the 4th of July celebration or other community events- a great pleasure for him and, yet again, another source of countless stories.
For over twenty years Melvin, and Bertye owned BerMel’s, the local department store. Their servant hearts allowed them to generously assist those in need and support numerous Katy ISD fundraisers.
In a lifetime in which so much was witnessed, imagine Melvin’s great amazement to learn, at the age of 93, the newest Katy ISD high school would be named Jordan High School in honor of the Jordan family’s rich heritage and extensive involvement in the Katy community begun by his parents in the early 1910’s and continued with he and his siblings and their families. What a tremendously humbling honor!
Melvin was a hard worker, a good friend and a great family man. Although our patriarch is gone, his love and the life lessons we learned from him will continue to be the legacy for generations to come.
Melvin is survived by his daughter Beverlye (Charlie) Shafer of Katy; daughter Theresa (Scooter) McMeans of Katy and daughter-in-law Nita Jordan of Boerne.
He is also survived by granddaughters Laurie Conrad of Katy; Julie (Phillip) Dautrich of Katy; Chantel (Ronald) Zunker of Boerne; Jill Durst of Buchanan Dam; Cara (Dean) Darrow of Katy; Jana (Jerod) Stewart of Katy; Amanda (Jason) Weese of Katy; Holly Jordan of Katy and Haley and Hannah Fox of Katy. Grandsons Ryan (Kaye Lynne) Jordan of Mason; Micah (Natalie) McMeans of Katy; Matt (Stefanie) Jordan of Pattison; Mason (Tara) McMeans of Katy; DeWayne (Carla) Dopslauf of Sheridan, and DeWhite (Kelley) Dopslauf of Pearland.
He is also survived by his great grandchildren Casey (David) Chastain; Cody Conrad; Kalin (Jordan) Wells; Kaleb (Lauren) Dautrich; Kason Dautrich; Ashley, Shelby, Libby, Macey and Luke Zunker; Dylan Durst; Jerod (Madison Mazur) Durst; Megan and Madison Darrow; Jordan and Jason Stewart; Rylan, Kinsley and Keltan Jordan; Mackenzie and Kylie McMeans; Olivia and Tristan McMeans; Emery and Ethan Weese and Jackson Marshall.
Last but not least, surviving Melvin are his great-great grandchildren, Emma and Mia Chastain and Parker and soon to arrive baby Wells. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Melvin is preceded in death by his beloved wife Bertye of 74 years, sons Steve and Marc Jordan; parents Hank and Olga Jordan and brothers Chester (Bessie) Jordan; Leonard (Beulah) Jordan, and sister Blanche (Gordon) Fussell.
Honorary pallbearers, dear friends all, are Gary Jordan, Dwayne Fussell, Bill Jordan, Raymond Dollins, Woody Stewart, Bill Callegari, Wayne Hooks, Cullen Dauchy and Albert Thompson.
In a final act of respect and love, all of Melvin’s grandsons and great grandsons will carry him to his resting place.
Our family would be blessed if you would support your local FFA booster club or give to the church of your choice in honor of a great and giving man. We also want to thank our wonderful caregivers from Family Tree, Sandra, Dinah, Helen, Marie and Abdul.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at Katy First United Methodist Church, where funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 22, 2022 with Rev. Mark Kimbrough officiating. Interment in Katy Magnolia Cemetery.
Funeral services held under the direction of
Schmidt Funeral Home
1508 East Avenue ~ Katy, Texas 77493 ~ (281) 391-2424