Jone Elizabeth Wright

Whether a first acquaintance or a life-long friend everyone loved Jone for her quick wit, keen sense of humor and fun personality.

“Some people are clever and funny, “ said Arthur Gilbert, a cousin of Jone’s mother-in-law. “But Jone is a true wit.”

Jone quipped in response: “Are you sure, Art, that you don’t mean a knit wit?”

Jone was born to farmers Edmond and Verna (Martin) Wood in a shanty on the Caney River in Bowring, OK, on January 6, 1944. “Baby Jone” was the youngest of six children, and she helped the family eek out a living off the land -- first at that Bowring farm then at a dairy in Grainola, OK.

Edmond moved the family to Franklin Mesa in Montrose County, CO, when Jone was in second grade. There she immersed herself in the country life of the Coal Creek community – raising rabbits and chickens, laughing and playing with school-mates who became enduring friends and participating in county and state 4H fairs and events. On one 4H bus trip, the county extension agent who chaperoned claimed Jone talked non-stop for 24 hours straight.

A conscientious student, Jone attended Coal Creek Community school through 8th grade and later graduated from Montrose High School in 1962. She was the Montrose High School FFA Chapter Sweetheart in 1963.

Jone was hired as a typist-stenographer at the Grand Junction Office of the Bureau of Reclamation in the fall of 1962. She took off 10 years to raise her daughters and retired in 2002 as a Public Involvement Specialist after more than 30 years of dedicated, recognized service.

In 1965, Don Wright, a young electronics technician came to Jone’s office to repair the copy machine. He asked Jone to go waterskiing with him that weekend and they married on Feb. 12, 1966. A daughter, Lisa Dawn, was born in 1970 and another daughter, Kristi Lynn, was born in 1972. Jone took great pride that both her daughters earned their bachelor’s degrees.

In retirement Jone and Don traveled with longtime friends on camping trips and cruises. They also made many new friends during their winter stays in Casa Grande, AZ. Jone enjoyed shopping, walking for exercise and playing cards.

Jone’s most treasured role was as “Nanny Jone” to her five grandchildren. Jone arrived just days after each grandchild’s birth whether in western Wyoming or western Europe; Omaha, NE, or Little Rock, AR. She cared for them as babies and chased after them as toddlers. As they grew, Jone attended their dairy goat shows and county fair competitions, cheered them on at track and swim meets and cherished time spent playing family games.

An Alzheimer’s diagnosis and subsequent memory loss shrunk Jone’s world beginning in 2017. She remained dedicated to her daily walks and spending time with her grandchildren. Nanny and Papa spent Christmases with Lisa and Kristi’s families at Lisa’s home in Highlands Ranch. Jone’s sister-in-law, Rena Carver, accompanied her to Maine in 2019 and Kristi brought Nanny for a vacation to Kristi’s Maine farm in 2020.

Jone is survived by her husband of 55 years, Don Wright of Grand Junction, daughters and sons-in-law: Lisa and Bryan Mortimer of Highlands Ranch CO; and Kristi Wright and Patrick Strawbridge of North Yarmouth ME; and grandchildren: Nathan and Scott Mortimer of Highlands Ranch, CO; Grace Mortimer and fiancé Conner Gent of St. Louis MO; and Don and Nora Strawbridge of North Yarmouth, ME.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Jone Wright to the Mesa County 4H Foundation, PO Box 4828, Grand Junction, CO 81501.