Spc. Jeffrey Jordan died in Afghanistan on Thursday a world away from his loved ones. On Saturday, his family huddled together at his grandparents’ house in Armuchee remembering the grandson, son, husband and father who touched so many lives.

“People need to know Jeffrey was a good man. I just want to make sure they know how good a man he was and how proud we all are of him,” his mother, Mary Lou Dowdy, said.

The family members, including his widow, Lacey, took turns holding the couple’s 1-year-old son, Tailor, as they recalled fond memories of someone who always cared for others, especially his family.

“Even though he was over there (Afghanistan), he was always worried about us,” Lacey said. “He cared so much for us. He didn’t care what happened to him, as long as his family was taken care of.”

His sense of protection and wanting to provide for his family led Jeffrey, 21, to join the Georgia National Guard.

“I had a lot to do with him joining the Army,” his grandfather, Clarence White, said. “It was tough because there just aren’t that many good jobs around here. But he wanted to do it to be able to provide for his family.”

He was serving with the Calhoun-based 108th Cavalry, and two other members of his unit died along with him.

Family members said Jeffrey got a lot of his strength from White, who he affectionately called Paw Paw.

“Jeffrey was always working on things and fixing things. He was changing tires on cars when he was eight years old,” his older brother, Robert Jordan, said. “He learned a lot from Paw Paw, and he was a great mechanic because of him.”

Though she had to stop several times to wipe away tears, Lacey recalled meeting and falling in love with her future husband.

“We met at a family get-together, and when I first saw him, I didn’t think too much of him. But then we started talking, and that’s when I fell in love with him,” she said.

Jeffrey was also smitten as he told his family about meeting Lacey.

“He told us he had met this girl at a party, and that she was like a movie star,” his mother said. “He said that she was his Barbie doll.”

Three months later he proposed, and the two were soon married.

“He told me later that the minute he met me, he wanted to marry me,” Lacey said. “When we got married, he was strutting down the aisle, he was so happy.”

The happiness would grow as the couple had their first child, Tailor.

“I had never seen him cry, but when he found out I was pregnant, he was so happy that he cried,” Lacey said. “He wanted to have a whole house full of kids, and he was just so excited when Tailor was born.

“He (Jeffrey) was so afraid that when he came home Tailor wouldn’t recognize him. But he didn’t have to worry. I have a picture of Jeffrey on my cell phone, and every night Tailor kisses it and says Dada,” Lacey said. “He was looking forward to coming home and having Tailor walk to him. We’ll always have a piece of Jeffrey with us because Tailor is the spitting image of his father.”

Lacey said she got really worried Thursday when he had yet to call and wish his son a happy birthday.

“He was supposed to call Tailor on his birthday, and when the call didn’t come, I knew something was wrong. Everybody around me told me not to worry, but I knew something bad had to happen to keep him from calling,” Lacey said. “I knew he would do anything to tell Tailor happy birthday.”

Although the call never came, a birthday gift from Jeffrey to Tailor arrived on Thursday.

“He may not have been able to make that call, but with that gift he was still able to tell Tailor happy birthday,” she said.

Although it was hard for them to talk about Jeffrey, family members shared a few smiles and laughter recalling some stories.

“You never knew what kind of mischief we’d get ourselves into,” Jeffrey’s brother Robert said. “We were always together doing something crazy.”

Lacey remembered one such story that happened at her parents’ house.

He and my daddy would work on cars and stuff. One time Jeffrey got to working on an old go-kart and got it running. The next thing you know, he had crammed himself in the thing and was driving all over the yard in it,” she said.

Robert recounted how Jeffrey was always thinking of his family.

“He’d see something over there (Afghanistan) that he knew one of us would want, and he’d buy and send it to us,” he said. “I love chess, and one day I got a package from him and it was marble chess set.”

Jeffrey’s younger brother, J.R. Tomason, kept quiet throughout much of the reminiscing, breaking down a few times as the memories were recounted.

“He really looked after his younger brother,” Mary Lou said. “He just loved his whole family and would do anything for them.”

At one point when several eyes teared up, J.R. looked up and made an observation that brought smiles to the whole room.

“You know, if Jeffrey were here right now, he’d kick our butts for crying about him,” he said.

“He wouldn’t want us to cry,” Lacey agreed. “He would want us to be happy because he’s in a better place.”

During the conversation, the family received a phone call letting them know that Jeffrey’s body had landed in Dover, Del. Although the plans are not finalized, the family believes his body could return to Rome by Wednesday.

“He was such a good person and always had a kind word to say,” Lacey said. “God made something special when he made Jeffrey.”

An account has been established for Tailor at Coosa Valley Federal Credit Union. Contributions can be made to the Tailor Jordan Fund at any branch of Coosa Valley Federal Credit Union.