Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, June 1, at Calvary Baptist Church in Portales for Helen Ruth Jones of Dora.
Jones, 95, passed away Saturday, May 27, 2017, in Portales.
Rev. Wes McAfee will officiate at the services, with interment to follow at Mount Zion Cemetery in Dora. Pallbearers will be Jake Jones, Verne Jones, Chris St. Clair, Benton St. Clair, Garry Brewer and Jimmy Montgomery.
Helen was born Oct. 31, 1921, in Celeste, Texas, to N.B. and Olean Duncan. The family moved from Celeste to the Richland area of New Mexico in 1936.
On Sept. 25, 1939, she married Opal H. Jones, and the couple moved from Grants to Dora in 1949. There, they owned the Dora Grocery Store until their retirement in 1978, and on May 4, 2002, they moved to Portales.
Helen taught children’s Sunday School at the First Baptist Church of Dora, was active in the Women’s Missionary Union, and sang in the church choir. She also enjoyed singing solos and duets for church services.
Helen was known as the Avon Lady in and around the Dora community for 20 years and was often recognized as a top salesperson by the Avon President’s Club.
Her family remembers her for her wonderful cooking and baking skills, for great family gatherings, and for her beautiful flower gardens.
Survivors include sons Joe Jones and wife Sandra of Lufkin, Texas, Bobby Jones and wife Kathie of Lubbock, Texas, and Jerry Jones and wife Jenny of Richmond, Va.; daughters Billie Loyd and husband Ron of Artesia and Terry Jones of Rio Rancho; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; two great-great- grandchildren; sisters Freida Slone of San Angelo, Texas, Mary King and husband John of Artesia, and Maud Thorp and husband Don of Alamogordo; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Opal Jones, in 2005 after 67 years of marriage; her parents; brothers TZ, Ernest and Oscar Duncan; sister Ila Mae Smith; son David L. Jones; and grandson Bradley Loyd.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, 2200 S. Avenue I, Portales, N.M., 88130, or online at www.wheelermortuary.net.
Arrangements are under the direction of Wheeler Mortuary of Portales. Condolences may be expressed online at wheelermortuary.net.
