Mary Ruth Jordan, 84, of rural Chanute passed away Thursday, March 20, 2025, surrounded by family and friends at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center.
Mary was born on Oct. 18, 1940, in Weir, the daughter of Clyde and Jessie (Allred) O’Neal. Though her legal name was Mariuth, she became known and loved by all, simply as 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 Weir and graduated from Weir High School in 1958. After graduation, she worked at Harry’s Cafe in Pittsburg for a year and half. There she met the love of her life.
Jerry D. Jordan and Mary R. O’Neal married in Weir on Jan. 31, 1960.
They would spend the next 59 and a half years together until Jerry’s passing in November 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 district. 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 a quarter century before they retired. She and Jerry ran a small farm, raising mules, horses, cattle and crops. She also bred and sold Siamese cats for many years.
Mary is survived by two brothers, Patrick of Neodesh and George Keith (Thelma) of Parsons; a sister, Peggy Hunt of Franklin; three sons, Jeff of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire, Doug (Mara) of Galesburg and Jerry Wayne of Chanute; one daughter, Brenda (Mike Winter) of Riley; six grandchildren, Mikayla, Brittni, Jessi and Mavrick Winter, Rilee and Wyatt Jordan; one great-grandson, Riggin Jordan- Fletcher; and Michael Letterman, whom she considered her 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 her older sister, Alice Ann Maxwell.
The family greeted friends on Thursday, March 27, at Countryside Funeral Home, 101 N. Highland. The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, March 28, at the Westview Southern Baptist Church in Chanute. Cremation will take place after the service.
The family suggests memorials 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. Countryside Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
