Klileen Leister Jones

Klileen Leister Jones was born on July 27, 1927, in Memphis, Tennessee but grew up in Lawton, Oklahoma. She graduated from Lawton High School in 1945 where she played coronet in the all-girls’ band. She met the love of her life, George H. Jones, Jr. MD, at Centenary United Methodist Church in Lawton while George was stationed at Ft. Sill. They married on June 16, 1946, and relocated to Baton Rouge where Klileen attended Louisiana State University earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and later a Master’s Degree in the Organ. She was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. Klileen and George moved to New Orleans in 1949 where Klileen taught music at The Academy of the Sacred Heart while George was in medical school and residency. They returned to Baton Rouge in 1957. Upon returning to Baton Rouge, Klileen was involved in many civic and community organizations. She was a member of the First Methodist Church where she was a member of the United Methodist Woman and sang in the choir. She was also a member of the Junior League of Baton Rouge, the Baton Rouge P.E.O. chapter, the Chorale Society, Community Concert Society, the Women’s Clubhouse, Louisiana Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the Music Club of Baton Rouge, and the Baton Rouge Community Theatre. She also performed in many operas, plays and musicals in Baton Rouge, and displayed her organist skills at many churches throughout Baton Rouge. Klileen was an avid supporter of LSU but especially the LSU School of Music, and the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre. She was also a Sweetheart of Sigma Chi. Besides her love of music, Klileen loved to travel. She and George visited over 40 countries throughout their lifetimes. Klileen is survived by her sister Sarah Leister Bridges and her husband Kenneth Owen Bridges, Dorothy Leister Gaither and her husband Douglas Gaither, and David Leister and his wife Martha Leister, as well as 7 nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased in death by her mother and father, LeRoy Bismark Leister and Willie Lucille Crisp Leister, sister Doris Leister Harveland, brother Arthur Curtis Edward Leister, niece Marne Harveland Botkins, and nephew David Kent Leister. A memorial service to celebrate Klileen’s life will be held at First United Methodist Church on June 10, 2024, at 1:30. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the LSU School of Music in Klileen’s honor.