Thomas E. Jordan

1929 - 2012

Thomas Eugene Jordan, Sr. passed away on September 1, 2012 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was born July 1, 1929 in Albertville, Alabama, to Walter Eugene Jordan and Lillian Ree Gentry Jordan, but grew up in Long Beach, Mississippi. Tom was always happiest when he was on or near the water and his first job at age 13 was teaching sailing at Gulf Park College for Women in Gulfport, Mississippi. Tom graduated from Long Beach High School and then searching for adventure, he joined the Merchant Marines. After a couple of years at sea, Tom enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where his career in Avionics spanned 23 years. He proudly served his country at home and overseas, fighting in both the Korean and Viet Nam wars, and was awarded several medals including the Bronze Star with Combat V. He retired from Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington DC, in 1971 at the rank of Lt. Colonel, but always remained a Marine. Semper Fi.

In 1950, while stationed in St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada he met and married the love of his life, Violet (Vi) M. Hiscock. While in the service, Tom and Vi lived in in many locales including North Carolina, Hawaii, Tennessee, Colorado, California and Virginia. Upon Tom's retirement, they moved to Pensacola, and he purchased and managed Economy Marine on New Warrington Road. For many years he was the top Mariner Outboard dealer in the nation. During this time, Tom became an active member of the Bass Club, the Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club, Ducks Unlimited and the Pensacola Yacht Club. After 15 years in the boating industry, Tom sold the business to begin a new adventure in real estate.

In 1986, Tom and his partners opened RE/MAX Horizons Realty on Creighton Road eventually adding a second location in Pace, Florida. Tom was a real estate Top Producer for many years and in 1994 served as President of the Pensacola Association of Realtors. In his spare time, he volunteered with the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society .

Tom retired from his third career to spend time with the family and to pursue his lifelong interests of sailing, boating, fishing and golf. With his family, he managed to sail to most of the islands in the Caribbean and in 2008, at the age of 78, he went waterskiing on Bayou Texar and had a wonderful time!

Tom is survived by Vi, his wife of 63 years, his three children, Thomas E. (TJ) Jordan, Jr., Karen Jordan Nobles (William), Pensacola and Dr. R. Paul Jordan (Susan), Northport, New York; two sisters, Peggy Lanning, Sedona, Arizona and Betty Thomas, Linton, Indiana; five granddaughters: Alyssa A. Jordan, Kristin M. Jordan, Brittany L. Jordan, Sarah L. Jordan and Michelle J. Smith; four step-grandchildren, Stephanie N. Byrne (Robert), William D. Nobles IV (Erin), Robert H. Nobles and Patrick W. Nobles; and five step-great grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Thursday September 6, 2012 at the Oak Lawn Funeral Home. The service will be 12:30 P.M. Friday September 7, 2012 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home with interment following at Barrancas National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be the United States Marine Corps Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Tom's honor to the American Cancer Society