Visitation will be held on Monday, April 15, 2019 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm at Memorial Funeral Home, Columbia, MO. Funeral service follow at 2:00 pm at the funeral home with Rev. Lylia & Jim Altom officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Frances Lodine Long Jones was born August 18, 1937 in Cairo, Illinois to Marshall Neal and Anna May Long. She was one of eleven children.
When Frances was about ten years old her family moved to East St. Louis, Illinois. A friend from school once invited her to church and soon she became a regular attendee at Second Presbyterian Church close to her home. There she met Samuel and Marie Kitchen, who became lifelong friends and mentors. Mr. and Mrs. Kitchen were very influential in encouraging Frances to get an education. In 1951 they helped her enroll in The School of the Ozarks at Point Lookout, Missouri. All of her life Frances spoke fondly of her memories there. She graduated with honors in 1955.
It was at the School of the Ozarks that Frances met the love of her life, Earnest Lee Jones. Earnest graduated in 1954 and moved to Columbia to attend the University of Missouri. This was a great motivation for Frances, and in the fall of 1955 she became an MU student where she studied vocal music performance in the Arts and Sciences program. Frances and Earnest continued their courtship while at MU and were married on June 23, 1957. Their wedding was held at the Second Presbyterian Church in East St. Louis. After the wedding they chose Columbia, Missouri as their permanent home. They had four children: Angie (1959), Randy (1964), Renee (1974), and Beth (1975).
Frances was employed many years in various clerical and secretarial positions. She developed strong skills in grammar, spelling, typing, shorthand and transcription. Most of her years of secretarial employment were spent working for the University of Missouri Steno Services.
In 1957 Earnest and Frances joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon church). Frances actively participated in the Columbia ward of the church for many years. In her later years her beliefs shifted more towards Seventh Day Adventist beliefs, but because she was mostly homebound at the time she never officially joined nor was able to attend services. She held very deep Christian beliefs which were important to her throughout her life.
Frances had many interests. She especially loved music. She performed in many groups: small vocal ensembles, church choirs, girls glee club, and was a member of the University of Missouri Choral Union. She also loved drama and performed in high school productions and later in regional musical and drama productions. Her main hobby was studying family history and genealogy. She enjoyed playing card games and bingo. During her homebound time she especially liked watching TV reruns of shows like Star Trek, Perry Mason, The Golden Girls, Murder She Wrote, and The Rifleman.
After several years of declining health, Frances died peacefully in her home on Monday, April 8, 2019 in the presence of family members.
Frances was preceded in death by husband Earnest Lee Jones; father and mother Marshall Neal and Anna May Long; sisters Edna Elizabeth Wideman, Doris Marie Tune, and Lola May Hollowell; brothers Jerry Lynn Long, Paul Vernon Long, and Daniel Lee Long; and grandson Brian Earnest Carlson.
She is survived by four children Angela Rose Jones Carlson, Randy Lee Jones (Heather), Joy Renee Jones Shelby (James), Merrie Beth Jones Rivera (Mike); grandchildren Heather Marie Carlson, Mellissa Carlson, Hayley Renee Linzie, Zachary Lee Jones, Jacob Ryan Hollandsworth, Jordyn Renee Hollandsworth; brothers David Eugene Long, Joseph Neal Long, Wayne Allen Baum; sister Gloria Jean Ridener; and several nieces, nephews and extended family members.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Operation Smiles , c/o Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 West, Columbia, MO 65202.
