Cleta Joy Jordan Shuler, 81, departed this world on February 28, 2014, to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was born at home on March 4, 1932, to William Claude and Laura Augusta Bost Jordan, in Tipton, Oklahoma. She married her high school sweetheart, James Leo Shuler, on March 15, 1952. Cleta will be remembered for her independent spirit, her infectious laugh, the joy she shared with friends and family, and her love and strength as a wife, mother, and Grams.
She was a 1950 graduate of Caddo Mills High School and received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education from East Texas State University. She was a champion for the education of children with special needs, working for many years as a Speech-Language Pathologist and an Educational Diagnostician for Greenville and Rockwall Independent School Districts.
Cleta was a charter member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church. One of her greatest joys at Ridgecrest was teaching the “70 to Heaven” class for many years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, William Jack Jordan, of Menard, Texas, and nephew, William Shawn Jordan, of Caddo Mills, Texas.
Cleta is survived by James, her husband of almost 62 years; son, Allan (Mendy Shahan) Shuler of Caddo Mills, Texas; daughters, Laurie Shuler of Greenville, Texas, and Dolores (Steve) Ackley of Garland, Texas; grandchildren Tonna (Ross) Dishner of Caddo Mills, Texas, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Matt, and Ben Ackley of Garland, Texas; great-grandchildren, James, Abby, and Mason Dishner of Caddo Mills, Texas; sisters Maxine Janway of Dallas, Texas, and Helen Wooten of Denison, Texas; sister-in-law June Johnston Jordan of Menard, Texas; one nephew and four nieces.
A celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 4, at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Greenville, Texas. Interment will be at IOOF Cemetery in Caddo Mills, Texas. Family visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, March 3, at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home, 5100 Interstate 30, Greenville, Texas 75402, (903) 455-4110. Pallbearers will be Tom McAllister, Larry Baker, Jim Sandin, Timer Hartley, Jim Kilgore and Phillip Killgore. Honorary pallbearers will be Lee M. Burch, J. W. Housewright and John Mizell.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to Food for the Hungry (fh.org), Operation Smile (operationsmile.org), or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.cokermathews.com.