Mom, Helen Pauline (Polly) Jones, was born in Greenfield, Missouri. She loved her Mom and

Dad (a farmer) and her two sisters, Juanita and Mildred. Her Dad was given a small farm

by his parents and he ran a horse-drawn grader for the county to earn extra money. Her

Mom died when she was a small child so she spent a lot of time with cousins and her

sister, Juanita, who was ten years older.

When Mom was in first grade, she rode a horse to school which her Dad got in a

trade. She was instantly popular in school because of the horse. She also trapped

skunks and opossums as a youth. She never realized there was the Great Depression

because her family were farmers, self-sufficient and already poor.

After graduating High School, Mom and a friend Naomi Daniel Holland stayed at a

family members apartment for free while attending Western Union School. This school

taught you how to send out typed messages. Upon finishing Western Union School Mom

relocated to New Mexico, where she worked and married our Dad. They moved around to

different Marine bases while he served in WW2. They even lived in a house by the ocean

in California.

Dad worked construction jobs before the war which required a security clearance.

His work site had to do with heavy water and nuclear bomb developments. When the war

broke out they would not let him deploy overseas.

Their first child, Janice, was born in Kentucky. Number two, Robert, was born in

Ohio and numbers 3, 4, 5 and 6 Betty, Gary, Rick and Darrell were born in Indianapolis.

We settled in Indianapolis for a number of years.

Our parents bought a 24 acre mini-farm and the sellers threw in the old house, all

for $24k in 1965. This farm was in Danville, Indiana. There they had a big garden where

Mom spent summers canning and freezing the produce. Favorites included homemade

plum, grape and blackberry jellies. She made a dessert with every dinner meal and with

many desserts we added jelly.

Mom was frugal and smart. She cooked healthy before it was popular to do so.

We ate all of our leftovers and if there was an extra spoonful left over, she would make

the meal with one less spoonful the next time.

After moving to Danville, the first order of business was to find a Church home.

We showed up at First Baptist two weeks after their opening Sunday. Mom loved the

Lord, her family, church and her home with a great passion. She taught Sunday School,

recited psalms and poems on Mothers' Day and directed Vacation Bible School.

She was well known for looking for the best in people and always taking the side

of the accused. She never talked badly about others and was never invited to a pity

party! The only show on TV Mom would watch was Dr. Jeremiah, She had a very

important meeting everyday with our Lord where she would read the Bible and pray for

family and friends.

Mom loved Dad and truly understood what it meant to have a one flesh

relationship. She greeted him at the door every evening. She would stop what she was

doing to give him her full attention and of course a kiss. As children we never remember

a cross word or fight, but we also remember their meetings after we were supposed to be

in bed. It was then that they planned their life. Dad listened and respected Mom's

opinion and Mom honored Dad. She wore her wedding ring until she went to be with the

Lord, even after Dad passed away 23 years ago.

Mom made sure we had what we needed; not always what we wanted. She

negotiated a plan for Jan to drive the rest of the kids crazy, and a bow and arrow for

Rob to protect us. We moved to Danville because Betty wanted a horse, and Gary

needed a pond to fish and catch frogs and turtles (mostly with his hands). Mom spent

hours with Rick trying to teach him to spell and Darrell got away with everything. Either

because he was the youngest or because he could make everything seem funny.

Mom and Dad were blessed with many Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.

Most have remained close in proximity and they saw them often.

A graveside service will be at Noon Monday, Nov. 23 at Danville South Cemetery.

Thank you for your prayers and kind words! All are so appreciated. Memorial

contributions can be made to Emily Palagi, YWAM Missionary-Samoa. Checks may be

mailed to her US address, 3359 West Sagamont Street, Springfield MO 65807.