Obituary of R. Ellen Jones

R. Ellen Jones, 85 of Iowa City died Friday, October 8, 2010, at Oaknoll Retirement Residence. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 13, 2010, at the First Christian Church in Coralville. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. Memorial donations can be made in Ellen’s memory to Iowa City Hospice or Oaknoll Retirement Residence. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Ellen was born July 13, 1925, in Keswick, Iowa the daughter of Ivan and Gladys (Parke) Thompson. She attended schools in Iowa City, graduating from City High School in 1943, and later she receiving her BA degree from the University of Iowa. Prior to her marriage to M. Dean Jones on August 28, 1951, she taught Home Economics Classes in the Montezuma School District. Following her marriage she maintained their home and cared for her husband and children. She was always the silent push behind her husband’s numerous business interests throughout the years. Ellen was very active in this community in volunteering, supporting numerous organizations, and her church. She and her family have been longtime members of First Christian Church, she was a member of the Home Economics Society at the University of Iowa, PEO Chapter E, TTT, an avid bridge and euchre player, strong supporter of University of Iowa Athletics; having established the Dean & Ellen Jones Athletic Scholarship Fund. Her family includes a son, Charles and his wife, Bev Jones of Bloomington, MN; daughters-in-law, Lisa Cravens of Ft. Aransas, TX and Ethel Jones of North Liberty; grandchildren, Jerry (J) Martin Jones, Jon Dean Jones, Jeffrey Martin Jones, Tiffany Marie Quintana, Chad Jones and Scott Van Oss; 3 great-grandchildren, Dustin, Crystal and Spencer; sister, Doris King of Waterloo, IA and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Dean; sons, Michael and Jerry; 5 brothers and sisters. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Ellen’s family and her services.