Jean’s joie de vivre inspired generations and will continue to live in our hearts.
Jean’s parents George and Jenny Ashley, who created the well-known El Paso Ashley’s restaurants and canning plant, instilled in her that same adventurous and talented spirit. Jean was a trailblazer who rarely said, “I can’t”.
With the love and support of her husband Jack R. Stone, Sr., who she married just before he left to serve in World War II, Jean earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in three years and went on to
earn her Master of Science Degree in Education—all while raising five children of her own, several grandchildren, and offering guidance to many others who found comfort and safety in her home.
If you didn’t meet Jean while she was a guidance counselor at McArthur and Bassett Junior High Schools you may have known her through her water aerobics teaching at the YMCA, the neighborhood watch program, knitting circles, or Lydia Patterson School—where she finished her career teaching computers and computer programming to teenagers when she was 85!
Survivors include daughter Ida Kelly of Albuquerque (grandchildren Channing Kelly and Robert Kelly); daughter Candace Wolf and her partner Rick Luna of El Paso (granddaughter Kirsten Wolf); daughter Melanie Douglas of Albuquerque (grandson Daniel Douglas); Paula Koch of Eureka Springs; grandchildren Jenny Ricky, Jean Ruiz, Rocky Stone, Judi Stone, and Mark Stone; along with a multitude of great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.
Jean was predeceased by her parents, George Ashley, Sr. and Jenny May Ashley; husband Jack R. Stone, Sr.; siblings George Ashley, Jr. and Marjorie Ashley Case; son Jack R. Stone, Jr. (grandson John Stone); daughter Alisdean Stone Rediker (grandchildren Kimberly Vega and Dana Ricky); and daughter Thalia Bernice Stone.
Visitation and Eulogy on Thursday, July 29th from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Funeraria Del Angel Central (Martin), 3839 Montana Ave. Graveside service on Friday, July 30th at 1:00 pm at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. If you plan to attend services, please wear red at Jean’s request.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Lydia Patterson Institute, 517 South Florence St., El Paso, TX 79901. Messages for the family can be mailed c/o Ida Kelly, 7410 Montgomery Blvd NE— Suite 100, Albuquerque, NM 87109 or emailed to [email protected].
