Iris Claire Jones

Iris Claire Jones, the daughter of Woolsey Theodore Newton and Iris Vienna (Arnold) Newton, was born August 1, 1929 in Hamilton Kansas. She passed away on September 6, 2017 in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Iris enjoyed a rural childhood in Kansas until her father relocated the family to Colorado. At ten years of age, she suffered the loss of her mother. Her father remarried and her family grew by two half-sisters and a half-brother. After graduating from high school and business college, Iris worked as a secretary. In Kansas she met the love of her life and in 1949, Iris married James Earl Jones at Forbes Air Force Base. After her husband left the air force, they lived briefly in Memphis, Tennessee but ultimately settled in Monroe, Louisiana. They were married 59 years.
Iris raised her family of three children with the utmost love, attention, devotion and care. She was a long distance from her kin and family of origin but she worked hard to maintain contact through the years. She was a faithful Christian in her words, work and behavior. She was known as a faithful, dedicated woman of prayer.
She happily watched her family grow into many grandchildren and great grandchildren. All of them touched individually by her love and example. She had a winsome grace and tender compassion for everyone who entered her life. As a widow, Iris spent time caring for her husband’s sister until her death and time with family. She enjoyed family reunions, simple chores and her pet dog Precious. As age took its toll, Iris relocated to her daughter’s home in Alexandria, Louisiana, receiving the care and attention she so richly deserved.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Frank Hastings Newton and Mary Emma (Balsom) Newton; her maternal grandparents, Mark H. Arnold and Bertha (Dunbar) Arnold; father Woolsey Theodore Newton, mother Iris Vienna (Arnold) Newton, husband James Earl Jones, sister Elaine Lenore (Newton) Oates and half-brother Edward Theodore Newton.
She is survived by a sister Nadine Oates of Topeka, KS; half-sisters Dianne Newton and Cheri Newton of Denver, CO; daughter Bonnie Jones and husband Charles A. Stokes of Alexandria, LA; son Roland Jones and wife Doni Pittman of Gulfport, MS; son Bryan Jones and wife Robin Ferrington of Bernice, LA; grandchildren, Jonathan Stokes and wife Lauren Drerup of Alexandria, LA; Ashley Stokes of Alexandria, LA; Andrew Stokes and wife Erin Willie of Alexandria, LA; Johannah Stokes of Alexandria, LA; Bryn Jones and wife Neelie Bruce of Dallas, TX; Cory Jones of Baton Rouge, LA; Whytney Jones and husband Reggie Loggins of Columbia, LA; Rosemary Jones and husband Benjamin Green of Ruston, LA; Jacob Jones and wife Rebecca Adams of Monroe, LA; along with nieces, nephews and 19 great grandchildren left to mourn her departure.
Pallbearers were Jonathan Stokes, Andrew Stokes, Jake Jones, Cory Jones, Bryn Jones and Bryan Jones.
Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, September 9, 2017 in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe. Interment will be at Transport Cemetery in Dodson, Louisiana with Rev. Tracy Ferris officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM Friday at the funeral home.
Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com
Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road
Monroe, LA