Mary Jones

Mary Louise Jones died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon at the age of 86.  Mary Louise, better known as Mary Lou, died of complications from pneumonia that came very suddenly just one day before her passing.

Mary Lou was born on November 11, 1928 to William and Ervilla Harrison in Bath, New York. She married Richard William Jones on December 29, 1953 in Lawrence, Pennsylvania. Mary Lou and Richard had three children, Richard, David, and Della Ann. Together they have six grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Mary Lou also had a son, Michael Batchelder, with her first husband, Edward Batchelder.

Reluctantly, Mary Lou retired from her work as a vendor clerk at the Hill Air Force Base commissary in 2009, at the age of 81. She was there for over 25 years and made countless friends throughout that time. Before that, she worked at Gibson’s Discount Store for more than 20 years and remained friends with some of her peers until her passing. As she aged, she remained devoted to her work, and to her employers. Moreover, she remained a loyal friend and confidant to her coworkers and customers. Mary Lou was proud of her work and tremendously enjoyed her time at the commissary and at Gibson’s.

Mary Lou was a vibrant, strong willed woman. She recently spent the holiday season visiting her son and family in Colorado. She enjoyed this time very much, and we are pleased she was able to spend this time with family before passing. Mary Lou loved her family very much, and she always spoke of them with pride and gratitude. Mary Lou made new friends everywhere she went, and she enjoyed catching up with old friends through telephone calls, postal mail, or old fashioned, sit down visits. Mary Lou was always one to remember the most intimate, sacred details of others lives, just so she could ask them how things were going and stay invested in the relationships. People loved this about her.

Mary Lou loved to travel and loved to talk about her experiences living overseas in places like Turkey and Japan. She cherished those times and remembered them fondly. Recently she found a liking for bingo, and she quickly became known as a bingo lover among her friends and family. She loved winning prizes for bingo, and she loved, maybe even more than winning, picking prizes that she knew someone else would enjoy, and gifting these prizes to loved ones.

Mary Lou is survived by her four children, Michael Batchelder, Richard Jones (wife Kiyo Jones), David Jones (wife LeAnne Jones), Della Ann Barfuss, grandchildren Troy Jones, Jason Barfuss, Jacob Barfuss, Jennifer Jones, and five great-grandchildren She is also survived by her brothers, Bobby Harrison and Virgil Harrison. Mary Lou is preceded in death by her husband Richard, and grandsons Chad Jones and Joseph Barfuss. She is also preceded in death by her parents, William and Ervilla, and three brothers, Frank, Tommy, and Jimmy Harrison.

Special thanks to the staff and volunteers at Avalon Care Center in Bountiful, for the kindness and love you have shown Mary Lou in the past two years. She had a hard time adjusting but you all made her feel so welcome and loved.  She also loved her roommate Sandy Butterfield and all of her other friends there. We appreciate all of you, and we thank you.

A funeral service is scheduled for 10:00 am on January 14, 2015 at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church, located at 210 Chapel Street, Layton, UT 84041, where Father Clarence will officiate. Viewing services will be from 9:00-10:00 am the morning of services at the church. Interment services will immediately follow funeral services and will be conducted at Syracuse Cemetery. For questions regarding services please contact Lindquist of Layton. In lieu of flowers please donate to Avalon Care Center, 523 N Main Street, Bountiful Utah 84010.