| Kelley E. McKirahan Jordan |

The Phonograph-Herald | May 13, 2026

Kelley E. McKirahan Jordan, 55, of St. Paul, passed away on Thursday, May 7, 2026, from cancer, at her home, surrounded by her family.

A celebration of Kelley’s life will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at the St. Paul Civic Center in St. Paul.

Casual attire is suggested by the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to The Kelley Jordan Memorial Fund in support of the Centura Public School Music Department or to the family for later designation.

Kelley was born on October 22, 1970, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to John and Sandy (Evans) McKirahan. She attended school at Tipton Community Schools in Tipton, Iowa, for eight years. She continued her education in Eldridge, Iowa, graduating from North Scott High School in 1989, having participated in both band and choir. She was selected to play trumpet for the Iowa High School All-State Band her senior year.

Kelley soon moved to Kearney, where she attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney, earning a bachelor of science degree in Music Business and a few years later, a bachelor of arts degree in Music Education.

During her career, Kelley taught music at St. Cecilia Catholic School, St. Paul Public Schools, Pleasanton Public Schools, and Centura Public Schools. She also worked at Kinkaider Brewing Co. for six years.

In the summer of 1988, Kelley traveled to Europe with the Iowa Ambassadors of Music.

As a result, Kelley was anxious to travel more and enjoyed taking groups of students to Europe. When she was not working, she loved reading and spending time with her family and friends.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Kearney and the Nebraska Music Education Association.

Those left to cherish Kelley’s memory include her son, Jesse Jordan of St. Paul; her parents, John and Sandy McKirahan of Kearney; her brother and sisterin- law, Jason and Nicole Kraus McKirahan of Edmond, Oklahoma; her nieces, Aidan and Avery McKirahan of Edmond, Oklahoma; and numerous relatives and friends. Kelley was preceded in death by her grandparents, Robert and Ruth McKirahan, and Jesse and Leola Evans.

Online condolences may be directed to the at www.jacobsengreenway. com.