Kathleen (Kathy) Ann Jordan passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on February 21, 2026, after an extended illness.
Born on September 23, 1947, Kathy was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and a cherished friend to many throughout Morrow County. The daughter of the late Raymond Odell and Eleanor Predmore, she spent her early childhood in Mansfield before her family settled on a farm near Iberia, Ohio. Life on the farm shaped her deeply, teaching her the value of hard work, the strength of family, and the quiet resilience that would define her life.
A proud member of Northmor High School’s second graduating class in 1965, Kathy met the love of her life, David “Mike” Jordan, who had graduated the year before. Their paths crossed thanks to the consolidation of the Iberia and Johnsville schools—an event that brought them together and led to 58 years of marriage.
While Mike served in the Army in Vietnam, Kathy showed her characteristic strength and independence. She attended Bowling Green State University, driven by her passion for helping children learn to read. She began her career as a second-grade teacher in the Big Walnut School District but soon chose what she considered her most important calling: being a stay-at-home mother to Jeff and Annie. She poured her teaching skills into her own children, ensuring they were more than ready for kindergarten from the very first day.
Her love of education and children’s literacy eventually drew her to the Perry Cook Memorial Library in Johnsville, where she began working in 1987. Kathy quickly became a leader and a creative force at the library. She helped establish the ABC program and other early literacy initiatives that prepared hundreds of children in the Northmor and surrounding communities for school—teaching them to love books, recognize letters and numbers, and step into kindergarten with confidence. She remained at the library until 2011, sharing her gifts for as long as her health allowed.
Kathy faced significant health challenges for the last 15 years, yet she met each one with courage, grace, and an unwavering spirit. She never complained about the countless treatments and appointments she endured. Her focus was always on her family—especially her beloved grandchildren, who were among the greatest joys of her life. Those who knew her understood that her determination to keep going was fueled by her love for them.
Generous in spirit, Kathy was always ready to ease the burdens of others. Her faith was central to her life, and she prayed for far more people than can be counted. She was a steadfast friend, known for her thoughtful texts, calls, and quiet acts of kindness that lifted others when they needed it most.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Mike; her children, Jeff (Robin) Jordan and Annie (Aron) Fraizer, all of Mount Gilead; and her treasured grandchildren, Ella and Luke Fraizer, and Myles (Juli) and Chase Jordan. She also leaves behind her favorite cat, Skipper; many nieces and nephews who adored her; and a sister and several sisters and brothers-in-law.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Pam Rinehart, and her grandnephew, Grant Reed.
Services will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Snyder Funeral Home, 2553 Lexington Ave, Lexington, Ohio from 10 am to noon, with a funeral immediately following. A brief graveside service will follow at Bryn Zion Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites those wishing to honor Kathy to donate to the Perry Cook Memorial Library of Johnsville or, in recognition of her lifelong commitment to children’s literacy, to bring a children’s book or two to her celebration of life. These books will be collected and donated to children and families in Morrow County to help spark the same love of reading that Kathy so generously shared.
The Lexington Avenue Snyder Funeral Home is honored to care for Kathy and serve her family. To share a fond memory or leave a condolence for the family please visit Kathy’s obituary page at www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com
Funeral Home: The Lexington Avenue Snyder Funeral Home
Website: www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com