Jordan K Smith

Jordan Kenneth Smith, 31, Groton, VT, died on Friday March 4th, 2016 on Ricker Pond. Jordan was born June 5, 1984 in St. Johnsbury VT to Brent and Pamela (McLeod) Smith.

Jordan was the youngest of 4 boys and was never far from trouble growing up. The day he came home from the hospital the flooding was so bad his family thought the bridge below the house would be washed away, but the waters receded and he made it home. His mother said, “Jordan was the kind of kid who if you told him the stove was hot, he'd have to touch it to see if you were lying”. By the time he was 3 he had already rolled his first rig, getting pinned underneath it. He spent summers swimming with his brothers at Boulder Beach in Groton State Park and hours tromping though the woods building forts and playing whatever games they invented. During his high school years he was active in the Green Mountain Youth Theater and most weekend nights could be found standing around a campfire with his friends. Jordan attended Blue Mountain Union School from Kindergarten to Graduation in 2002. Having had many of the same teachers as his older brothers, they were all too familiar with the Smith Boy shenanigans, and by the time graduation rolled around, he had to check the diploma just be sure it was actually signed.

At a bonfire in the fall of 2002 Jordan met Sara Bissell; the two were immediately inseparable. Jordan moved out of his parents house and moved into an apartment in Enfield, NH with Sara, and after a short while there, the couple rented a small apartment in White River Jct. VT. While in the Upper Valley Jordan worked for Chili's Restaurant, Millers Auto Sales, Quechee Club, as a mason tender and as an apprentice electrician at LDT Electrical, eventually obtaining his journeyman's license. On October 21st, 2005, with two weeks notice to family and friends, Jordan married Sara at the Groton United Methodist Church. Shortly after marriage the couple moved to Groton to help care for Jordan's grandfather and then his great-uncle. Once back in Groton, Jordan formed NEK Electric where he and his childhood friend, Paul Emerson, worked together. During this time he took an EMT class and began to volunteer with the Groton-Ryegate F.A.S.T. Squad, and the Groton Vol. Fire Department as well as working for Lamoille Ambulance Service and Woodsville Rescue Ambulance. In the fall of 2015 Jordan was hired at the Riverbend Career and Technical Center in Bradford as a teacher in the electrical technology and residential wiring program.

Jordan was a gentleman farmer, raising goats, chickens, ducks and turkeys; certainly not for profit, but for the love of the craft. He enjoyed hiking, kayaking, shooting and fishing (although he was never as good as Sara). He tried his hand at panning gold, smoking meat, amateur astronomy, and a thousand other little projects. He was Mr. Toad from Mr. Toads Wild Ride, always off in a different direction exploring something new. Jordan had a strong moral compass, and while many would sit by and tolerate racist or bigoted comments, he would speak up regardless of the consequences.  He was raised a Master Mason on March 2, 2006 at the United Brethren Lodge #21 in White River Jct. VT where he served as the Junior Steward for 3 years from 2008 to 2011.

Jordan excelled at every job he ever had, (except selling cars, he said he was too honest), but he never defined himself by any job, instead by the relationships in his life. He was the good friend, the fun uncle, the baby brother and loving husband. Jordan was the center of attention and life of the party. If you were talking with Jordan it was definitely not about the weather, he always had some new adventure to tell you about.

He is survived by his wife Sara Smith, his parents, three brothers Adam Smith and his wife Tammy of Littleton, NH, Joshua Smith and his wife Edith of Morrisville, VT, Aaron Smith and his wife Alissa Groton, VT, nieces and nephews, Andrew, Christopher, Amelia, Arden, Ajax, Adeline, Elizabeth, Artemis, many aunts, uncles, cousins, and his furry friend Kodin. He is predeceased by a nephew Jonathan.

Visiting Hours will be held at the Groton Vol. Fire Department, 1456 Scott Hwy, Groton, VT 05046 on Thursday March 10, 2016 from 4-8 PM. Funeral Services will be on Friday March 11, 2016 at 10AM at the Groton United Methodist Church 1397 Scott Hwy, Groton, VT. Those who wish may make donations in Jordan's memory to Groton Vol. Fire Department Inc. 1476 Scott Hwy, Groton, VT 05046.

 Service Information