April 20, 1944 - May 6, 2026
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Richard Paul “Dick” Jordan Sr. of Sheridan, Oregon, passed away on May 6, 2026, at the age of 82.
Dick was born on April 20, 1944, in San Francisco, California, to Merle Charles Jordan and Pauline Mildred Mae Henriksen. He grew up in Sheridan, Oregon, and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1962.
On August 2, 1963, Dick married the love of his life, Verna Lea Martin, in Willamina, Oregon. Together they built a life centered on family, friendship, and community. Dick worked for Copeland Lumber Yards from 1962 to 1970 before following in his father’s footsteps into the real estate business in 1970, where he remained until his retirement in 2008.
In his younger years, Dick had a passion for boat and ski racing – he was an avid water skier who loved spending time on the water competing and spending quality time with his family and friends. Many years he participated in the Port Angeles International Race that ran the 17 miles one way, and then back, between Port Angeles WA and Vancouver BC. He won numerous races throughout his career, including the National Drag Boat Races in 1972. In 1980, he traded in his racing boat for a fishing boat, beginning a new chapter filled with time on the water with friends, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren - something he truly loved. In this he impacted his grandchildren – instilling a love for time together on the ocean, fishing, and piracy in generations of Jordans.
Dick dedicated much of his life to supporting youth programs and serving his community. He organized Sheridan’s first Little Guy Football program and the Sheridan Little Guy Wrestling program, known as Top Gun, and helped establish Tri-Cities Little League Baseball. He was actively involved in the Sheridan Rotary Club, Jaycee Club, Columbia Speed Boat Club, the American Power Boat Association, the Sheridan Museum of History, and the Yamhill County Historical Society. Dick was also a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he raised his family in faith, and served as treasurer for many years.
He will be remembered for his sense of humor, his gift for storytelling, the quirky songs he wrote for his family, and the lasting friendships he built throughout his life.
Dick is survived by his wife of 62 years, Verna Jordan; his son and daughter-in-law, Tim (Adam, Brandon, Devin, and Alex) and Kori Jordan; his daughter and son-in-law, Poli and Russ Vandewettering (Kaylea, Kelsi, Kourtney and Kirsten); his son Andy Jordan (Tryston, Chad, Sarah, and Christian); Dick Jr’s children (Jennifer, Tyler, Katie, Tanner, Hannah, and Savannah); his honorary daughter and son-in-law Chiharu and Ben Wessel (Christopher and Chloe). He is also survived by his great-grandchildren; (Dick) Hailey; (Tim) Rylan, Zaylee, Hayden, Zayd; (Poli) Benjamin, Sophia, Emmett, Evelynn, Caiden, Logan, Adeline, Amelia, with two more on the way; (Andy) Monica, Axell, Oakland, Odin; his sister and brother-in-law, Debi Jordan Scheidler and Chuck Scheidler; his brother and sister-in-law, Merle and Peggy Jordan; and his many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Pauline Jordan; his son, Dick Jordan Jr.; his brother, Bob Jordan; his sister, Karen Jordan Wren; and his parents-in-law, Andrew and Frances Martin.
Funeral services will be held on May 15, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 311 SE Schley Street, Sheridan, Oregon. One of Dick’s greatest passions was preserving the stories and history of his hometown. To honor his memory, memorial contributions may be made to the Sheridan Museum of History.
