Dr. Chris Sullivan Jordan

(August 6, 1924 - June 14, 2016)

Dr. Chris Jordan passed away peacefully on Tuesday June 14, 2016. A Funeral Service celebrating his life will be held at Laurel Land Funeral Home and Cemetery in Dallas on June 24, 2016. Visitation will be held on Thursday the 23rd from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Laurel Land. A Military burial will follow the service on Friday at 2:00. Arrangements are under the direction of Laurel Land Funeral Home. Dr. Chris Sullivan Jordan was born August 6, 1924 along with his identical twin brother Curtis in Yangchow, China, sons of Baptist missionaries Dr. Carl and Mrs. (Eva) Jordan. Due to political unrest the family was not allowed to remain in China and moved to Des Moines, Iowa for his formative years. Dr. Jordan is a veteran three years with the Naval Hospital Corps service during WWII where he was stationed at the Base Hospital in Guam. Upon returning to the States he married his high school sweetheart Miriam Horine on August 23rd 1943. He received his B.S degree from Drake University in Des Moines and his Masters and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. After moving his family to Texas he worked in several clinical laboratories in Ft. Worth. He became supervisor of Terrell’s Clinical Laboratories before his career changed to teaching. After serving as Professor of Biology at Howard Payne University and Houston Baptist University, he became Head of the Science and Math Department at Dallas Baptist University in 1967 where he remained until his retirement in 1992. Chris was an avid birder and also enjoyed table tennis, golf, reading and traveling. During the 70’s he was president of the Dallas Audubon Society where he lead over 50 birding trips to locations in the United States, the Caribbean, South America and Africa. His Life List included over 800 birds. He participated for several years in the Texas Senior Olympics where he won medals in table tennis, as well competing against many of his college students. Under the Board of Baptist Convention he and his wife returned to China in 1992 to teach English to the medical school students for a year. Because of his love for the people of China, he returned again a couple of years later. He played golf well into his 80’s and was proud of the fact he shot his age on 18 holes. He and his wife lived their best and closing years in Hideaway, Texas where he taught and volunteered in the Community Church and also the nearby Nursing Home in Lindale. He started the Hideaway Bird Club whose members put together and formed the Hideaway Nature Trail. Always a teacher, he wanted others to take pleasure and learn from the nature walk, but more importantly for it to be in his words, “bringing a better understanding of the wonder and complexities of nature”. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Carl F. Jordan; his wife of 67 years, Miriam Jordan; brother, Mr. Carl Jordan and twin brother Dr. Curtis Jordan. Survivors include his brother, Dr. Ray Jordan of Lake Jackson, his son Steve and wife Juliana Jordan of Garland, daughter Sharon Smith of Rockwall and son Tim Jordan of Dallas. Grandchildren include; Chris and wife Jessica Jordan of Dallas, Shelby and husband Derrick Sumerlin of Austin, Travis Jordan of The Colony and Brittany Smith of Dallas (Now Austin). Great Grandchildren include; Tyler Jordan, Anna Jordan and Cole Jordan of Dallas. In lieu of flowers, if desires donation can be made at the Dallas Baptist University scholarship set up in Dr. Chris Jordan’s name.