Elizabeth L Jordan

" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" align="centerElizabeth L. Jordan, 90, of La Crosse, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 14, 2012.

Betty was born in Chicago, IL on January 6, 1922. Her parents were James and Sadie McTaggart, and she was the second of three daughters. All the McTaggart women went to college, which in 1940 was unusual. In 1940 she enrolled at the University of Arizona where she met Roger A. Skinner, her first husband. They were married just as Roger joined the Navy at the outbreak of WWII. They had two sons together, Tim and Eric.

Betty graduated from the University of Arizona and later earned a Masters Degree from Texas Tech University. The family resided in Tucson until they moved to Lubbock, TX. During those years Betty was a supporter of womens rights, a member of the NAACP and was active in politics.

In 1962 she joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin - Madison, taught in the School of Nursing and managed the Dietary Internship program there. She married Thomas Jordan in 1969.

She was lured back to the University of Arizona in 1972 as Director of Nutritional Services and was on faculty in the School of Medicine until her retirement in 1987. During those years she was involved in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She traveled throughout the country as a consultant for the Academy.

Betty was a member of PEO, Gamma Phi Beta, the Robert Burns Society and an Elder in the Presbyterian Church. She was very involved in these organizations and served as an officer in each at one time or another.

Betty traveled the world from the Arctic Circle, across oceans, seas and wandered all the continents. In 1983, she spent a month in China consulting with hospitals. She floated down the Colorado River on a raft through the Grand Canyon, and fondly talked about sailing through the Panama and Suez Canals. She visited the family farm in Scotland twice and took great pride in the fact that the land has been in her family for over 450 years. She was admired for her kindness, openness, for her deep sense of social justice and her love for adventurous travel.

She is survived by sons Tim (Colleen) and Eric (Susann) and grandchildren Erin (Breck), Sarah (Brett), Ben, Kate, Preston (Randi), Jenna (Andrew) and Scott. Erin made her a great grandmother with two beautiful children. She was preceded in death by two sisters Mary Dee Fisher and Ann East.

We especially thank Hillview Health Care Center staff for their compassion and caring over the last three years. Betty was very thankful for the care and for her home there, which she loved.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.