Ann Jordan

In Celebration of life for Ann Galbraith Jordan



March 08, 1942 – October 29, 2025

Ann Galbraith Jordan, a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, has entered the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Ann passed away at home on October 29th, 2025 while battling cancer.

Ann was born Leora Ann Galbraith on March 8th, 1942 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Her father, George H. Galbraith, and her mother Stella L. Galbraith, were big influences in her life. Ann was the youngest of five siblings; brother Bill, sister Betty, brother Hal, brother Bud and brother Jerry. For years she was called “Baby Ann,” which she grew very tired of in her early teens. Ann was independent, she did not follow the crowd. She was strong willed and lived life her way. Her mother-in-law once told her, “Ann, you are the most stubborn person I ever knew.”

Ann believed deeply in God and trusted him in his promises. Her faith in God was certain at the age of 14 when she accepted Christ Jesus as her personal savior.

She loved sports, particularly baseball and basketball. As a student at West High School, she was the captain of the volleyball team. As a young woman, she played the position of first base in slow pitch softball, a city league organization. On one occasion the coach told Ann she “Ran like a girl.” Ann told him, “She was a girl, if he hadn’t noticed.”

After graduating high school, Ann started her career as a secretary for a local advertising company. After years of honing her secretarial skills, she accepted a position in 1983 with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. After a few years, Ann was assigned the position of executive secretary with the Spallation Neutron Source. She worked for noted scientists like Dr. Alex Zucker, Dr. Bill Appleton and Dr. Tom Mason. Dr. Appleton told Ann she was wasting her talent just being a secretary and wanted her to pursue her education towards a degree. Ann told him she was very content doing the work she was assigned to her.

Along the way, Ann fell in love and got married to her husband, Timothy Jordan, and together they had a son, Andrew. Andy became the center of their lives. In time, Andy fell in love and married a beautiful lady named Brooke and together they have two beautiful daughters: Sophie and Averie. Ann was now a grandmother full of love and excitement. She said, “I don’t want the girls to know me as Granny or Grandma.” So, she searched the web for names and came up with “Bubbe.” Bubbe is Jewish for grandmother but she is not Jewish. Ann was so happy and excited that she would talk about when the girls became old enough, she could teach them how to cook and bake along with sewing and just whatever. The girls loved their Bubbe – she could always make them laugh and even taught them how to wink. Not to mention the delicious treats she would make for them, like cornbread sticks and chocolate chip cookies. Ann always made sure her family was fed.

Ann also loved nature and the outdoors. She and her husband Tim would spend their weekends exploring different trails in the Smoky Mountains, and afterwards have a picnic lunch from a home cooked meal which she prepared early that morning. Ann loved her Appalachian Mountains! Her request is to be cremated and her ashes scattered in the mountains where her husband proposed to her.

Ann retired in 2008 and decided to adopt a cat because her husband was still working. She told everyone that this cat adopted her. She named the Maine Coon “Albert E” as in Albert Einstein, due to the flyaway hair on his head.

Ann spent her quiet times reading - she loved to read all types of books. Every morning, she would work crossword puzzles in the local paper. Ann also loved to cross-stitch, knit, and crochet. In her love to learn she would watch game shows on television. Jeopardy was her favorite show but she loved all word games.

Ann will be remembered by her warm smile and compassionate heart. She said: “I smile at everyone because a smile will make someone feel like they are special. You just don’t know what that person is going through”. So, pass along a smile to someone and think of Anns comment…
“The most beautiful thing a person can leave behind is a smile on the face who loved them.”

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly request donations to be made in Ann’s memory to help the sick children at St. Judes Hospital: stjude.org/give.html. Thank you.

The family extends our heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of love and support but mostly your prayers during this difficult time. Please join us in remembering the life of Ann Galbraith Jordan: a lady, a wife, a mother, a Bubbe and a friend. Her spirit is at rest with our Savior and Creator, Christ Jesus. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for allowing us to know and love Ann…
“My mind still talks to you – My heart still looks for you – But my spirit knows you are safe with our Lord.”

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