Lynda Rue Duerksen Jordan

Lynda Rue Duerksen Jordan, Ph.D., age 65, passed away Sunday, June 5, 2011. Lynda was born April 18, 1946 in Decatur, IL to Oliver and Wilma Duerksen. Her parents and her husband, Harvie Lee Jordan, preceded her in death.

She is survived by her daughters, Tracey Lyn Wilkinson of Denver and Rachel Ann Jordan-Shuss of Austin, TX; son-in-law, Stephen Matthew Shuss of Austin, TX; stepdaughter, Anita McGuire of Las Cruces; stepson, Lee Sanders of Las Vegas; four granddaughters, Emily, Zoe, Hannah and Megan; brothers, David Duerksen and Richard Duerksen of San Angelo, TX; brother-in-law, Larry Jordan of Lubbock, TX; sisters-in-law, Kay Duerksen of San Angelo, TX and Margaret Jordan of Lubbock, TX; and numerous other relatives.

Lynda had more than 40 years of combined experience in journalism, education, public relations and creative writing. She began her career in journalism as a general news and features reporter in the 1960’s. She worked at both the Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph and the San Angelo Standard-Times. She made the transition to education in the early 1970’s teaching English and journalism for the Alice Independent School District in Alice, TX. She moved to Austin, TX in the mid 1970’s and managed events and media relations for the American Diabetes Association’s Austin office. While working for the Association, she met her future husband, Harvie Lee, who served on the board of directors for the Austin office. They married in June 5, 1976 and Lynda began teaching English, history and journalism to junior high and high school students for the Del Valle Independent School District in Del Valle, TX.

During her 25-year tenure at Del Valle, one of Lynda’s greatest achievements was the creation of the Horizon Program, which she developed to meet the needs of academically gifted or talented students at both Del Valle’s junior high and high school. Upon retiring from teaching in 2001, Lynda provided independent education consulting services to teachers that taught academically gifted or talented students, taught writing courses at Austin Community College in Austin, TX and focused on writing her own poems, short stories, novels and memoirs. She was a member of Story Circle Network and Texas Writers’ League.

Lynda earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX; a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Austin and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin in Curriculum Studies. Her thesis, Risking Apollo’s Kiss, explored the many reasons academically talented women enter the teaching profession.

The family will receive visitors from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, June 9, 2011 and from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday, June 10, 2011 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 South Congress Avenue. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday, June 10, 2011 at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery.