Lenore Jones

Martha Lenore Starnes Jones, 90, of The Woodlands, Texas went home to be with the Lord on Monday, July 30, 2012 in The Woodlands after a short battle with cancer. Born in Norman, Arkansas in 1921 to Janie Louisa Brister Starnes and Wiley Stephenson Starnes, she was the second of four children, and she graduated from West High School in 1939. Marrying TK Jones of Rocksprings, Texas on August 6, 1954 in Hillsboro, Texas, Lenore worked as a bookkeeper for a number of churches and businesses as she moved with her husband 42 times in his 36 years with Shell Oil Company before retiring with him to Stephenville, Texas in 1977. During their time with Shell, they lived in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Michigan. They lived in Stephenville from 1977 to 2001 when they moved to The Woodlands, Texas.

While in Stephenville, Lenore was an active member of First Baptist Church, Stephenville where she taught Sunday School to first graders for 15 years as well as serving in many positions within the Stephenville Garden Club. She also enjoyed sewing, reading, gardening, cooking, and preserving the vegetables that TK grew in his two-acre garden. One of her greatest joys was helping a number of older women in the community, taking them to appointments, cooking for them, and bringing them fresh vegetables. Lenore enjoyed all kinds of games, especially bridge with her friends at the Senior Citizen Center. After moving to The Woodlands, she joined the Friendship Sunday School class where she served as outreach chairman, faithfully calling her class members to ask about their health while also entertaining several every Tuesday for lunch in her home. Many times, she and her friends would then volunteer in the Mexican Mission Room effort of her church, First Baptist Church of The Woodlands, helping them prepare supplies for over 140 vacation bible schools each summer. During her illness, she was visited by a number of her “Nifty Nineties” class members who each asserted that she was their best friend. Lenore was known for her encouraging words and endearing smile as well as her great cooking and her concern for everyone with whom she met. She truly was everyone’s best friend.

Lenore is survived by her five children, Alsie Ann Duncan Wilson of The Woodlands, Texas; Dr. Marvin Edward Jones and Paulette Anderson Jones of Stillwater, Minnesota; Sharon Kay Jones McCoy and Jim McCoy of Houston, Texas; Jana Lee Jones Reid and Daniel J. Reid of Granbury, Texas; Dr. Jaye Lynne Jones Thompson and J.T. Thompson of The Woodlands, Texas; grandchildren, Kelly Melissa McQueen Galyon of Rockwall, Texas; Solomon Jones of Tempe, Arizona and Ivan Anders Jones of Chicago, Illinois; Joshua Daniel Reid, Jordan Kaitlyn Reid, and Joel Levi Reid of Granbury, Texas; Shelby Lenore Thompson, Jay Tanner Thompson, and Emma Jayne Thompson of The Woodlands, Texas; great-grandchildren Briana Laine Galyon, Connor Joseph Galyon, and Caleb Matthew Galyon of Rockwall, Texas; brother Willie West Starnes of Waco, Texas; brother-in-law Hayden Jones of Houston, Texas; and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, TK Jones and her sister Alsie Starnes Spurlock and brother Wiley Plunkett Starnes.

Visitation is Monday, August 6, 2012 from 6-8 PM at Forest Park Funeral Home in The Woodlands. Funeral services will be held in the chapel of Forest Park Funeral Home at 10 AM on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 officiated by Dr. Bruce Webb of First Baptist Church, The Woodlands, with graveside services in West, Texas at the Bold Springs Cemetery at 4 PM that day. Graveside services will be officiated by Steve Grube, her nephew. Donations may be made to Fight for Chrissy or Hannah’s Hope, two organizations seeking a cure for GAN, a childhood disease with which two of Lenore’s great-nieces are afflicted. Donations may be made at http://www.fightforchrissy.com/ or http://www.hannahshopefund.org/donate/ You may also mail Hannah’s Hope at Hannah's Hope Fund,

PO Box 130, Rexford, NY 12148. Special thanks to the doctors and nurses of Vitas Hospice who so lovingly cared for Lenore in her brief illness and to the friends and family, especially those from First Baptist Church, The Woodlands, who supported the family in this difficult time. We take comfort in the words of John Donne who said that “one short sleep past, we wake eternally, and death shall be no more; Death thou shalt die” because we know that “My heart may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” Psalms 73:26

To sign the register book or to leave memories of Lenore for the family please visit www.forestparkthewoodlands.com.