Obituary for William "Randy" Jordan
Randy Jordan was born May 29, 1958 and passed away on July 26, 2020 at the home of his daughter surrounded by loved ones after a battle with pancreatic cancer. On legal documents he was known as William Randall Jordan but he much preferred to be “Randy” to all. He was born at Burge Protestant Hospital in Springfield, MO to Bob and Polly Jordan. His older brothers, Bobby and Ronnie, were there to greet him when he arrived home but they didn’t do much about it since they were ages 2 and 1 respectively.
Changes came early in Randy’s life as his parents separated and later divorced. Randy spent much of his childhood in the Rogersville area; living southeast of town for many years on a farm. By that time Polly had met Rex Hyde; they wed and added another son, Reno in 1962. Reno had cerebral palsy and Randy was the ultimate big brother caring for Reno over the years. For years, Randy made weekly visits to his little brother, Reno, at the group home in Springfield. They would smoke a couple of cigarettes, Randy would catch Reno up on the family happenings and Reno would drink some coffee. Randy did this every week before going grocery shopping.
Randy attended Rogersville public schools for all but one year of his education. He completed schooling in 1976. Randy wasn’t a big fan of being in school; he did, however, excel in VoTech where he studied welding. Entering the world of work he quickly found employment as a welder at Seeburg Muffler Shop in Springfield.
He experimented with a variety of jobs for a while. It was during a stint with a telephone cable company that Randy met a cute, young thing named Christine VanDerAa. He was plowing cable past her parent’s home in Summersville, Missouri and they happened to catch a few glimpses of each other. Christine told her sister “He’s the one I am going to marry.” And they did marry on August 21, 1981 after a brief courtship and at Randy’s insistence. Randy and Chris traveled around the Midwest for a couple of years while Randy worked for LP&H laying cable. The couple separated just a few months prior to the arrival of a girl that would change Randy’s life. Ashley Paige arrived on April 9, 1984. From that day forward Randy had a reason to live and a purpose to fulfill.
Ashley was Randy’s reason to get up each day. According to Chris, “Randy was an amazing father. He was always there to be part of her life and if he said he would do something you could rely on it being done.” Randy would make a round trip to pick Ashley up after he finished work on Friday afternoon and then return to Springfield for the weekend visit with him and Grandma Polly. Another round trip on Sunday evening to return her home.
Somehow during Ashley’s very young years Randy, and his brother Ron, spent time racing on dirt tracks across southwest Missouri. Randy liked the thrill of the track and figuring out the strategic methods to win races. His racing career was short lived but it was a passion he pursued (safely from a recliner) as he watched every weekend for any televised race.
During her childhood Ashley gained a brother, Kaylon, who during his childhood would require that he do flips by walking up Randy’s legs while holding his hands. According to witnesses to these flips, Kaylon had to do 20 flips before he would let Randy take Ashley for a visit. Kaylon grew to respect Randy and valued his opinion; the special relationship between them grew regardless of biology.
Family was always very important to Randy. His mother, Polly, had chronic heart problems as a result of rheumatic fever as a child and later had open heart surgeries to address the issues. Randy decided to stay at her house so that she always had someone there in the event of a health crisis. There were numerous times that Randy would contact family from the Emergency Room after taking his mother due to a sudden change in her health. Polly passed away in February of 2005. After her passing Randy moved into a little house out in the woods very near his work in Rogersville, Missouri. He lived there until one week before his passing when he moved to Ashley’s house in Jackson, Missouri. That week was filled with special memories for Ashley and her family.
Randy found a work home with Davis Excavating and worked there for 36 years. Needless to say the owners of that company became part of his extended family as well. Randy loved working in the dirt; he was one of the best backhoe operators in the area and was blessed with a commodity in short supply these days - common sense. He could ‘read the land’ which meant this sometimes this would result in conversations about the plans for a space and some changes that would need to be made.
Randy was the reliable, stay around home kind of guy. Once when invited to visit his older brother, Bob, who lived in Tampa, Randy replied, “I was in Florida once. I didn’t lose anything there and there’s no reason for me to go back.” He was happy being at home watching shows about history or westerns and spending time with his brown dog, Bud (which was a surprise present from his daughter; his son-in-law kept asking if they shouldn’t warn Randy first, but Ashley insisted it be a surprise). Bud was Randy’s constant companion for the past 10 years.
On December 9, 2010 Randy became a grandfather. Paisley GracAnn became Randy’s extended reason for getting up each day. His granddaughter could do no wrong in his eyes. He would come home in the evening and drop the coins from his pockets into a little jug for Paisley. She would become excited when the jugs would be nearly full and she could take them home. The requirement was that she had to be able to carry it to the car. Randy was always teaching his girls about being self-reliant and taking care of yourself.
Paisley loved her Grandpa Fuzzy. Fuzzy was his name for most of the next generation of children in the Jordan family. Uncle Fuzzy was deeply loved by his nieces and their children. He always had a smile and a good word for the little ones. Randy loved his hair long and rarely cut his hair or trimmed his beard. The last time his beard was trimmed short was for Ashley’s wedding to Scott. He also cut his hair at that time and donated it to a charitable organization.
Randy was a man of few words. He didn’t find it necessary to speak to fill silences and could sit not saying anything for hours. However, he was always learning. He had knowledge acquired from years of observing others. He was comfortable in his own skin and was equally at ease chatting with a CEO or a farmer at the feed store. He was his own man. He had very strong beliefs but would always respect anyone whose beliefs were different than his own.
Randy is survived by his daughter, Ashley Blakey, her husband Scott, and their daughter Paisley; also by Kaylon Kahler, wife Abbie, and their children Rigen, Harper and Rowan. His ex-wife and close friend, Christine Kahler also survives his passing. Other surviving relatives are his brothers: Bob Jordan, partner Kurt Peldszus, and Ron Jordan, girlfriend Shellie Wilson. There are five nieces: Janelle Turney, husband Tom; Nicole Luning, husband Dan; Vanessa Holt, husband Michael; Summer Brooks, husband Brandon; and Sami Jordan. There are 10 great nieces and great nephews.
Randy has two paternal aunts remaining: Tiny Hester of Richmond, VA and Evelyn Johnson, husband Jim, of Willard, MO. A maternal aunt, Wanda Donovan, husband Richard, of Buffalo, MO; and a maternal uncle, Fred Brooks, wife Joyce, of Ash Grove, MO. His extended family includes, Roy and Sarah Davis, Jeff and Jodi Davis and their daughter, Audrey, all of Rogersville, MO.
Randy was preceded in death by his mother, Polly Hyde; father, Robert A Jordan; stepmother, Florence Jordan; stepfather, Rex Hyde; and younger brother, Reno Hyde.
A memorial service will be held on August 8, 2020 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 East Walnut, Springfield, MO.
In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to:
Kelley Cemetery 12742 W Farm Road 64, Ash Grove, MO 65604
The family would like to thank Integrity Hospice of Springfield, MO and Legacy Hospice of Cape Girardeau, MO for taking great care of Randy.
Changes came early in Randy’s life as his parents separated and later divorced. Randy spent much of his childhood in the Rogersville area; living southeast of town for many years on a farm. By that time Polly had met Rex Hyde; they wed and added another son, Reno in 1962. Reno had cerebral palsy and Randy was the ultimate big brother caring for Reno over the years. For years, Randy made weekly visits to his little brother, Reno, at the group home in Springfield. They would smoke a couple of cigarettes, Randy would catch Reno up on the family happenings and Reno would drink some coffee. Randy did this every week before going grocery shopping.
Randy attended Rogersville public schools for all but one year of his education. He completed schooling in 1976. Randy wasn’t a big fan of being in school; he did, however, excel in VoTech where he studied welding. Entering the world of work he quickly found employment as a welder at Seeburg Muffler Shop in Springfield.
He experimented with a variety of jobs for a while. It was during a stint with a telephone cable company that Randy met a cute, young thing named Christine VanDerAa. He was plowing cable past her parent’s home in Summersville, Missouri and they happened to catch a few glimpses of each other. Christine told her sister “He’s the one I am going to marry.” And they did marry on August 21, 1981 after a brief courtship and at Randy’s insistence. Randy and Chris traveled around the Midwest for a couple of years while Randy worked for LP&H laying cable. The couple separated just a few months prior to the arrival of a girl that would change Randy’s life. Ashley Paige arrived on April 9, 1984. From that day forward Randy had a reason to live and a purpose to fulfill.
Ashley was Randy’s reason to get up each day. According to Chris, “Randy was an amazing father. He was always there to be part of her life and if he said he would do something you could rely on it being done.” Randy would make a round trip to pick Ashley up after he finished work on Friday afternoon and then return to Springfield for the weekend visit with him and Grandma Polly. Another round trip on Sunday evening to return her home.
Somehow during Ashley’s very young years Randy, and his brother Ron, spent time racing on dirt tracks across southwest Missouri. Randy liked the thrill of the track and figuring out the strategic methods to win races. His racing career was short lived but it was a passion he pursued (safely from a recliner) as he watched every weekend for any televised race.
During her childhood Ashley gained a brother, Kaylon, who during his childhood would require that he do flips by walking up Randy’s legs while holding his hands. According to witnesses to these flips, Kaylon had to do 20 flips before he would let Randy take Ashley for a visit. Kaylon grew to respect Randy and valued his opinion; the special relationship between them grew regardless of biology.
Family was always very important to Randy. His mother, Polly, had chronic heart problems as a result of rheumatic fever as a child and later had open heart surgeries to address the issues. Randy decided to stay at her house so that she always had someone there in the event of a health crisis. There were numerous times that Randy would contact family from the Emergency Room after taking his mother due to a sudden change in her health. Polly passed away in February of 2005. After her passing Randy moved into a little house out in the woods very near his work in Rogersville, Missouri. He lived there until one week before his passing when he moved to Ashley’s house in Jackson, Missouri. That week was filled with special memories for Ashley and her family.
Randy found a work home with Davis Excavating and worked there for 36 years. Needless to say the owners of that company became part of his extended family as well. Randy loved working in the dirt; he was one of the best backhoe operators in the area and was blessed with a commodity in short supply these days - common sense. He could ‘read the land’ which meant this sometimes this would result in conversations about the plans for a space and some changes that would need to be made.
Randy was the reliable, stay around home kind of guy. Once when invited to visit his older brother, Bob, who lived in Tampa, Randy replied, “I was in Florida once. I didn’t lose anything there and there’s no reason for me to go back.” He was happy being at home watching shows about history or westerns and spending time with his brown dog, Bud (which was a surprise present from his daughter; his son-in-law kept asking if they shouldn’t warn Randy first, but Ashley insisted it be a surprise). Bud was Randy’s constant companion for the past 10 years.
On December 9, 2010 Randy became a grandfather. Paisley GracAnn became Randy’s extended reason for getting up each day. His granddaughter could do no wrong in his eyes. He would come home in the evening and drop the coins from his pockets into a little jug for Paisley. She would become excited when the jugs would be nearly full and she could take them home. The requirement was that she had to be able to carry it to the car. Randy was always teaching his girls about being self-reliant and taking care of yourself.
Paisley loved her Grandpa Fuzzy. Fuzzy was his name for most of the next generation of children in the Jordan family. Uncle Fuzzy was deeply loved by his nieces and their children. He always had a smile and a good word for the little ones. Randy loved his hair long and rarely cut his hair or trimmed his beard. The last time his beard was trimmed short was for Ashley’s wedding to Scott. He also cut his hair at that time and donated it to a charitable organization.
Randy was a man of few words. He didn’t find it necessary to speak to fill silences and could sit not saying anything for hours. However, he was always learning. He had knowledge acquired from years of observing others. He was comfortable in his own skin and was equally at ease chatting with a CEO or a farmer at the feed store. He was his own man. He had very strong beliefs but would always respect anyone whose beliefs were different than his own.
Randy is survived by his daughter, Ashley Blakey, her husband Scott, and their daughter Paisley; also by Kaylon Kahler, wife Abbie, and their children Rigen, Harper and Rowan. His ex-wife and close friend, Christine Kahler also survives his passing. Other surviving relatives are his brothers: Bob Jordan, partner Kurt Peldszus, and Ron Jordan, girlfriend Shellie Wilson. There are five nieces: Janelle Turney, husband Tom; Nicole Luning, husband Dan; Vanessa Holt, husband Michael; Summer Brooks, husband Brandon; and Sami Jordan. There are 10 great nieces and great nephews.
Randy has two paternal aunts remaining: Tiny Hester of Richmond, VA and Evelyn Johnson, husband Jim, of Willard, MO. A maternal aunt, Wanda Donovan, husband Richard, of Buffalo, MO; and a maternal uncle, Fred Brooks, wife Joyce, of Ash Grove, MO. His extended family includes, Roy and Sarah Davis, Jeff and Jodi Davis and their daughter, Audrey, all of Rogersville, MO.
Randy was preceded in death by his mother, Polly Hyde; father, Robert A Jordan; stepmother, Florence Jordan; stepfather, Rex Hyde; and younger brother, Reno Hyde.
A memorial service will be held on August 8, 2020 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 East Walnut, Springfield, MO.
In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to:
Kelley Cemetery 12742 W Farm Road 64, Ash Grove, MO 65604
The family would like to thank Integrity Hospice of Springfield, MO and Legacy Hospice of Cape Girardeau, MO for taking great care of Randy.