Elizabeth Adelaide Jones

Elizabeth “Liz” Jones died peacefully at The Lodge at Cypress Cove in Fort Myers, Florida on December 16, 2017. She was born in Beatrice, Nebraska on January 2, 1921 and spent her growing up years in Nebraska as well as attending business school there.

Liz met the love of her life, Gerald (Jerry) Jones, in the Spring of 1940 at the Cornhusker Hotel where they both worked; she as a cashier and Jerry as a waiter. They started seriously dating in the Fall of 1940 and they became engaged on September 14, 1941. They were married on November 27, 1941 and built their “happily ever after” that most only dream about.

Jerry “volunteered” into the Army Air Corp in the Fall of 1942; Liz followed him to his various stations until he was deployed overseas in October of 1944. They wrote amazing letters to each other and they even worked out a “code” so Liz and her family could have an idea of his location without divulging military secrets or being subjected to censorship. Jerry returned when the war was over and completed his formal schooling and proceeded to have tremendous jobs in Buffalo, New York and later in Newton, Iowa. They relocated to Fort Myers in March of 1996.

Liz and Jerry were able to travel internationally visiting such places as England, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, and most of the Caribbean Islands. They also accomplished visiting all 50 states in the Union by 1992.

In 1975 she was named Mother of the Year at the University of Iowa for all her local, state, and National volunteer efforts. Liz was a member of the Iowa chapter of Questers and was involved, and held offices in, local PEO chapters. She was the lead-director at the Newton Community Theater for plays such as Music Man, Two By Two, and Anything Goes.

Liz is survived by her loving husband of 76 years, Jerry, their five children (Richard (Betty) of Lehigh Acres, Florida; Deborah (Robert) of Columbia, South Carolina; Steven (Diane) of Rockford, Illinois; Betsy of Sarasota, Florida; and Patricia (Peter) of Las Cruces, New Mexico), 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. All are blessed to have known her and call her Mom and Grammy.

Memorial services will be held at Iona-Hope Episcopal Church in Fort Myers on Thursday, December 28 at 10:00 A.M. A small reception will be held after the service. If you desire, contributions be made in the name of Liz Jones to Iona-Hope Episcopal Church or your favorite charity.