John (Jace) Carroll Jordan III
May 11, 1949 - March 21, 2021
Retired Lance Corporal John (Jace) Carroll Jordan III, 71 passed away surrounded by family at the Yuma Regional Hospital on March 21, 2021. Jace was a decorated purple heart veteran who served in the Vietnam War.
Jace was born on May 11, 1949 in Spokane, WA to his parents John Carroll Jordan, Jr. & Lorraine Adella Wessel. After graduating from Shadle Park High School he was just 19 years when Jace decided he wanted to join the Marines and was stationed at Camp Pendleton in California.
He served in the Vietnam War with the Weapons Training Battalion as a Rifleman, he was hit with a hand grenade during an attack while he was on a Combined Action Patrol on July 16th, 1969.
Jaces honorable medical discharge, Jace started working at the Spokane County Health District. In 1970 he was introduced to Marilyn Giesa via John C Jordan, Jr and they wed in marriage in May 1972, going on to have 2 children, Lisa Ann Jordan (Hunter) & Erika Sue Jordan (Crossland) they divorced in 1988.
He went on to study Environmental Health and Safety at Eastern Washington University, while he was working and raising a family. Jace was a force of nature, determined to provide for his family and give them the life he felt they deserved. His family meant more to him than anything else in the world, something he often mentioned. He was unendingly proud of Lisa Hunter, Erika Crossland, and Carol Durbin and always tried his best to support them.
In 1995 Jace met his current soulmate Carol Jean Durbin. He retired from the Spokane County Health District after 30 years of service. Anyone that new Jace was aware that he was the life of the party, would talk your ear off, and the term a social butterfly does not define him. Jace loved everyone he met.
In retirement Jace & Carol spent many hours on a boat in Blaine, WA then spent 9 years traveling the united states. enjoyed a beautiful life in Yuma Arizona. He spent many enjoyable hours racing RC cars, line dancing, Side by side rides, & motorcycle rides.
Jace was predeceased by Father John C. Jordan, Jr & mother Lorraine A. Wessel.
He is survived by Carol Durbin, brothers Ron Jordan (Heidi), Steve Jordan (Katie), Ken Jordan (Patty), daughters Lisa Hunter(Robert), Erika Crossland (Bryan), Stepson Bill Durbin (Stephane), Stepson Jim Durbin, Grandkids Katelyn Hunter, Megan Crossland, Benjamin Durbin, Nicole Hunter, Penelope Durbin; & multiple nieces, nephews, & cousins.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers please send donations to the Navy-Marine Corps relief fund on behalf of retired Lance Corporal John C. Jordan III by nmcrs.org & selecting donate in the top right corner. There will be a celebration of life at Sun Vista Resort 7201 E 32nd St, Yuma, AZ 85365 at 2pm on Saturday March 27. 2021
Then his full military honors ceremony will be held at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in June
2021, (exact date TBA) 21702 W Espanola Rd, Medical Lake, WA 99022.