Nell Jones

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

Nell W. Jones (aka Sissy, Mom, Aunt Nell, Granny Goose, Great Granny Goose, and “the Queen”), a resident of Panama City Beach, Florida, died December 16th surrounded by family in Joplin, Missouri.

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 10th, 1925, she and her husband Ernie moved their family to Houston, Texas for many years to raise their sons before retiring in 1981 to their version of heaven, Panama City Beach, Florida. They were accompanied by her mother, GaGa (aka Hurricane). 

Nell was a devout Episcopalian and a member of Grace Episcopal Church, Carthage, Missouri, and St. Thomas-By-The-Sea Episcopal Church, Laguna Beach, Florida. Nell was a woman ahead of her time. She chose to work outside the home to provide a private education for each of her sons and two of her grandchildren. She was initially employed as a bank teller before she rose in the ranks to the position of Assistant Vice President and Loan Officer of Meyerland Bank. As a consequence she was named in Who’s Who of American Women. 

After her retirement in Panama City Beach, she devoted herself in voluntary service as Secretary to the Rectors of St. Thomas-By-The Sea and Grace Episcopal Churches of Panama City Beach. She also entertained friends and family on the deck of their home on the beach with fun in the sun and feasts of New Orleans style shrimp, oysters, and crab. 

Among her favorite pastimes was playing on the beach with her grandchildren before taking them out for ice cream lunch and buying them the latest in swimsuits. She was a survivor of Hurricane Opal that destroyed their home on October 10th, 1995. 

After her husband, Ernie, died in 2000 she moved briefly back to her roots in New Orleans before returning once again to the home of her heart, Panama City Beach. Among her social and professional associations were the Women’s Civic Club of Panama City Beach and the Retired Officers’ Wives Club at the Navy Base.

Nell is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law: Charley and Marsha of Galveston, Texas; Brian and Sandy of Joplin, Missouri; Mike and Shirley Ann of Lake Ozark, Missouri; and Deni of Kansas City, Missouri. She has five grandchildren and their spouses: Chuck Jones, Kelly and Chad Gross, Nicki and Aaron Marsters, Katie and Jason Getz, and Diana and Adam Miller; and eleven great grandchildren: Guinevere, Cameron, Cooper, Colby, Abigail, Gavin, Elisa, Annsley, Landon, Avery, and Caroline Rose. 

Nell’s death was preceded by that of her beloved husband, Ernie, brother, Charley, and great granddaughter, Adeline.

Memorial service will be held on December 28th at 2PM in Grace Episcopal Church, Carthage, Missouri; and Funeral service and interment will be at St. Thomas-By-The-Sea Episcopal Church, Laguna Beach, Florida at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Grace Episcopal Church or St Thomas By-The-Sea Episcopal Church in memory of Granny Goose.