Shirley Jean (Downing) Jones

Shirley Jean Downing Jones, 86, entered her heavenly home on Thursday, March 10, 2022 at her residence.  The Holland, KY native was a retired church secretary at Ridglea West Baptist Church where she also served as a kindergarten music teacher for over 20 years.  She was a church pianist and organist at several churches in Arkansas, Texas and Kentucky, and a member of  Holland Missionary Baptist Church, Patrick Gillmore DAR and the Allen County Historical Society.  She was a daughter of the late John Clemons Downing and Ruby Kathleen Gibbs Downing.  She married the love of her life, Lured Denton "Jonesy" Jones on July 3, 1954.  Shirley was an Air Force wife and a courageous homemaker always ready for the next assignment.  Her husband, "Jonesy" was career Air Force, and they were stationed all over the US and Puerto Rico, finally retiring in Ft. Worth, TX.  Her beloved husband preceded her in death in 1994. 

Shirley will be remembered for her musical gift playing piano.  She never had a lesson but played beautifully by ear for all to enjoy.  She loved hosting parties and events at her home and was so talented by creating party themes, decorating and serving delicious foods.  Also, she was a church hostess at several of her home churches.  Shirley was a keeper of facts.  She documented in writing the coming and going of everyday life in her world.  As a young girl, she journaled (in chronological order) events of her day, places she went and people she met.  She logged meals, grocery lists, restaurants visited, all with reviews and her thoughts of the food and atmosphere.  She enjoyed outings with family and friends.  It was her favorite thing to do.  She wrote specifics about every vacation and visits back home.  She loved to relive past events.  She loved playing games, especially card games where she was known to be quite the shark.  Just ask the girls who played with her at the lodge.  She played to win but was gracious enough to let you win now and then.  Her famous saying when the grandkids would beat her was "tacky, tacky, tacky."  She loved her red bird collection given to her by her kindergarten kids and many friends over the years.  When you think of Shirley, you will always think of cardinals.  

After her husband passed away, she returned home to Scottsville, KY to care for her mother living in Holland.  She beautifully redecorated her home making it very inviting to family and friends.  With failing health, she made a hard decision to return to Texas to live with her son and daughter-in-law.  She may have been in Texas, but she always had Kentucky in her heart.  Preceded in death by her husband, parents and sister, she is now having a glorious reunion with her family and with her Saviour Jesus Christ.  She was a shining example of Christ, was a fierce prayer warrior and lived every day loving her Lord.  Today, she is wearing a crown of jewels...richly deserved.  She would want every to know the love of Jesus and accept his gracious gift of salvation.  She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.  Proverbs 3:15

She is survived by 1 son:  Lured Denton "Buddy" Jones, Jr. and wife, Paula, Midlothian, TX; 

1 step son:  Richard Jones and wife, Delores, Brownsville, KY;

4 grandchildren:  Jared Jones, Joni Boler (Mike), Cody Jones, Richie Jones (Becky);

A bonus grandson:  Ryan Haney (Natalie);

6 great grandchildren:  Chase Boler, Rhys Boler, Gauge Jones, Grey Haney, Graham Haney and Summit Haney; 

A brother-in-law:  William Gillock, Lakeland, FL; 

1 nephew:  Bill Gillock, Lakeland, FL; 

2 nieces:  Leslie Waldorff, Bartow, FL and Heather Bridges, Lakeland, FL; 

Many cousins and very dear friends. 

She was preceded in death by her sister:  Peggy Joyce Downing Gillock. 

Graveside service will be 3:00 p.m. Thursday, March 24, 2022 at Holland Baptist Church Cemetery with Bruce Gibbs officiating.  Visitation will be 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Goad Funeral Home.  The family would like to thank the dear nurses and aids at Bristol Hospice and Fidelis Home Care for being such a blessing to Shirley in her last days.  They were her extended family.  

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