Dr. Paul L. Jourdan MD

He was born February 9, 1930, in Knoxville, TN, to Robert Harry Jourdan and Anna Mae Hickey Jourdan.

He served in the U.S. Marines in Korea in 1950. He was one of the “Frozen Chosin,” American Marines who defeated Chinese forces despite being outnumbered by 10 to 1. He survived the -35º to -54º temperatures (with frostbite that pained him during the winter for years afterwards). For his service he received two Presidential Unit Citations among other medals. He was a graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, President of his UT College of Pharmacy senior class, and also President of his UT College of Medicine senior class. He interned at St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville in 1960, then began to practice General Medicine in east Knox County. Years later, when the field of Family Medicine was recognized as a specialty, he took the exams and became Board Certified. From 1961-2001 he treated patients near Strawberry Plains and surrounding areas. He made countless house calls in various Jeeps at all hours and in all weather conditions before houses had numbers, when addresses were as vague as “Route 4.” He treated accidents at the zinc mines, above and below ground. He treated everyone without regard to whether they could pay him or not. He would get up, get dressed, and go out on house calls, or drive into Knoxville to see an emergency admission at St. Mary’s as many as four times in a single night, then go to work the next morning without complaint. He enjoyed maintaining his 100 acre farm, raising Black Angus cattle, quarter horses, pheasants, wood ducks, geese, peacocks, cockatiels, and an ever-changing motley crew of stray domestic and wild animals including raccoons and skunks. The story of his life, "Heart In the Right Place," was a national bestseller and won many awards.

He is survived by daughter Carolyn Jourdan and son David Carlton Jourdan.

The family will receive friends Saturday, July 20, 2024 between the hours of 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM in the chapel of McCarty Evergreen Funeral Home, 7426 Asheville, Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37924. Family and friends will meet Sunday, July 21, 2024 at Eastview Memorial Gardens, 1320 Andrew Johnson Hwy, Strawberry Plains, TN for a 2:00 PM Committal Service. He will be entombed at Eastview Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Andrew Johnson Hwy, Strawberry Plains, next to his wife of 63 years, Elise Walton Greenup Jourdan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of his favorite charities, Disabled American Veterans at DAV.org

Family and friends are invited to share fond memories and words of condolence at www.mccartyevergreen.com