Jean Ann Jones' Obituary
After a seven-week illness, Jean Ann Jones went home to be with the Lord on February 27, 2024 in Longview, Texas. She was 93. She moved to the Longview area in 2019 to be near family. A memorial service for friends and family in Michigan is planned Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Country Christian Evangelical Free Church in Scotts, MI.
Jean was born on March 14, 1930 in Battle Creek, Michigan to LeRoy and Geneva (Rusch) Hart. She graduated from Battle Creek Central High School in 1948 and enjoyed attending her class reunions while living in Michigan. Jean met her husband, Claire, at the Grand Trunk Western Railroad offices where they both worked; they were married on May 9, 1953, in Jean’s family church in Battle Creek. After living in an apartment for one year in Battle Creek, the couple moved to Climax across the street from Claire’s parents and kitty-corner from his aunt and uncle. In the tiny town of Climax, Jean and Claire lovingly raised their two daughters, Diane and Laura. They were married for 52 years.
Diane and Laura treasure the times the family spent together when growing up in Climax: “We loved going on family picnics and outings —eating the delicious potato salad and freshly-baked apple, peach, and blueberry pies that Mom made. She was a good cook. We loved playing our musical instruments together and listening to Dad play his saxophone accompanied by music-minus-one records. We loved eating the delicious harvest from the yearly garden, camping once a year in beautiful, northern Michigan, and going to Detroit Tiger baseball games. We remember the fun we had playing board games and ping pong, and taking drives through beautiful, rural and wooded country areas after eating out. We remember watching the old family Christmas slides, never forgetting the videos of the family, friends and smalltown events that Mom and Dad recorded on the movie camera. Some of these special moments took special preparation, time and work, and we loved them for it. Mom was a very special mother and homemaker. We treasured being her friends as adults.”
Later on, Jean and Claire were part of the founding members of Country Christian Church in Scotts and often played together for church services (piano and tenor sax). They were very blessed by their involvement there. The people and what they learned there played an important part in their lives.
Jean enjoyed homemaking, reading, playing the piano, being involved at church, gardening, camping, family get-togethers, working at the Lawrence Memorial Library, Study Club, teaching 4-H in years gone by, and other activities. She cherished times spent with friends, family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Jean really cared about them, often putting herself in their shoes and them first. She was an encourager.
Jean would want to thank her family and friends who helped her in Michigan during the years after Claire died, especially when she began to lose her eye-sight. “You were an extremely important part of her life and were very dear to her.”
As a result of illness, Jean moved to live with Diane (Fred) in Nebraska to regain her strength. After several months, Jean was able to move to Texas near Laura (Tom) and their family, where she lived in a cheery apartment in an independent living complex. Jean said that she very much enjoyed living there, daily helped by Laura. Towards the end of Jean’s life, Dave and Elizabeth beautifully built a small cabin in their yard so that their Grandma Jones could live there; the family loved her and she loved them. “We were privileged to experience Mom’s/Grandma’s gentle, pleasant and flexible spirit, even near death.”
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, LeRoy and Geneva Hart, a still-born younger brother, her husband, Claire, of 52 years (died on September 9, 2005) and sister-in-law, Ardith. Those left to treasure Jean’s memory are: daughters—Diane of Nebraska and Laura (Tom) of Texas; grandchildren—Amanda, Jim (Monica) and Dave (Elizabeth); just-like-a-granddaughter—Kerri (Jarred); several great grandchildren; cousin—Jeannine (Bob); and nieces and nephew—Cynthia (Bill), Suzanne (Bill), and Brad (Robyn). “We miss her but are blessed knowing that she is in the Lord’s magnificent presence, able to see and walk again, and reunited with Claire, family and friends.”
Memorial contributions in honor of Jean can be sent to Country Christian Evangelical Free Church, 9286 36th Street S, Scotts, MI 49088. Private inurnment will be in Prairie Home Cemetery, Climax.
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