David Olen “Oley” Jourdan, Jr., 83, of Iuka, Mississippi, died Thursday, July 19, 2012, at Magnolia Regional Health Center in Corinth. Once again Iuka has lost a favored son in the death of David Olen Jourdan, Jr., affectionately known as “Olen” or “Oley”. Mr. Jourdan was born to D.O. and Mary Aliene Ragland Jourdan on February 16, 1929. Olen graduated from Iuka High School and the University Of Mississippi School Of Business. While at Ole Miss he was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. He married Betty Jane “B.J.” Harris of Cherokee, Alabama while on leave from the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia before being deployed to Korea. After his service as a Second Lieutenant during the Korean Conflict, Mr. Jourdan returned to Iuka where he was co-owner of the family business, J.C. Jourdan Lumber Company. Oley’s roots ran deep in Iuka and Tishomingo County and he was passionate about many local entities. He was a member of the Iuka United Methodist Church where he served on the Administrative Board and as chairman of the Finance Committee for many years. He served as chairperson of the Mississippi United Methodist Foundation and continued to serve as a board member. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Wood Community College, and was a long time member of the Iuka Rotary Club, where he received the club’s highest honor of being named a Paul Harris Fellow. He was on the Board of Directors of Iuka Guaranty Bank and a member of the Friends of the Iuka Library. A loyal Rebel, Oley served as president of the national Ole Miss Alumni Association, served on the Ole Miss Athletic Association Board, the Ole Miss Athletic Committee, and the Northeast Mississippi Alumni Association. Visitation is scheduled for 12 Noon until 2 PM on Saturday, July 21 at Iuka United Methodist Church. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 PM on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at Iuka United Methodist Church, officiated by Rev. Jon Kaufman. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers include Bob Brown, Clinton Brown, John Castleberry, Tony Gaines, Robert Grisham, Gene Jourdan, Raymond Jourdan, and Bill Turner. Honorary pallbearers will be Calvin Seay, James Belue, Lucion Puckett, and members of the 9:35 Coffee Club. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka, MS is entrusted with arrangements. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, B.J. Harris Jourdan of Iuka; 1 daughter – Jane Jourdan Rhea of Iuka; 1 son – D.O. “Bubba” Jourdan, III of Iuka; 6 grandchildren – Bo Rhea (Rebecca) of Memphis; Jourdan Rhea (Carey) of Memphis; Harris Rhea (Kathryn) of Tupelo; Millie Jourdan Seymour (Dixon) of Birmingham, AL; David O. Jourdan, IV and Katie Rose Jourdan, both of Iuka; and 3 great grandchildren – Ellie and Lucy Rhea of Memphis and Clayton Rhea of Tupelo. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jourdan Scholarship Fund at Iuka United Methodist Church and 101 E. Eastport Street, Iuka, MS 38852.
