Joyce Jones

July 10, 1940 - December 3, 2018

Joyce Sue Keen Jones, age 78, passed away peacefully on Dec 3, 2018 at the E.T. York Haven Hospice Care Center in Gainesville, Florida surrounded by her family. She was born in Wilcox, Florida on July 10, 1940 to Niven and Susie Mae Keen. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Cross City Branch. She will be fondly remembered by her family as a loving, supportive wife, mother and grandmother. Joyce learned the value and satisfaction of work, early in her life. Like many young people at the time, her first job was on a local tobacco farm, where she earned money to buy her own school clothes. She later cleaned cabins at Suwannee Gables Motel. When she was 16 years old, she worked as a waitress at a cafe in Old Town. It was here that she met a handsome young Marine who was home on leave. Within a few years they were engaged, and she married Robert (Bobby) Jones on June 14, 1958, shortly after her graduation from Dixie County High School. Joyce was employed by the Dixie County School Board from 1968 until her retirement in 1998. She was first hired as a teacher's aide at Anderson Elementary, the first year it opened, and later transferred to Old Town Elementary School where she worked as a teacher's aide, library aide and was cafeteria manager at the time of her retirement. Joyce lived a life of service, always sacrificing her own needs for the good of her family. She had the tender gift to be able to recognize the needs of others and respond to them. As a leader of the women's organization in her church, she was a blessing to many women and families as she tended to their needs during illness, trials and sorrow. Before her illness she loved visiting area nursing homes with Bob, bringing love, light and a listening ear to those who felt lonely or forgotten. She had a great love for children, and served in her church for many years as a teacher and leader of children and youth. Joyce enjoyed arts and crafts, and especially loved helping the children she taught in church and her own grandchildren make holiday gifts for their mothers. She loved the children she worked with at school and took special delight in decorating the cafeteria for them on every holiday. Not one for fancy things, Joyce knew what was most important in life. Her greatest treasure was her family. Joyce is survived by her husband of 60 years, Robert (Bobby) Jones of Old Town, her daughters, Bobbie Joyce Lamar (Danny) of Old Town, Regina Mims of Fanning Springs, Pamela Sanchez (Jack) of Trenton, 8 grandchildren: Jesse, Kristin, Jason, Kevin, Kelby, Kaylee, Kyle and Hannah, 12 great-grandchildren, her beloved sister Mary Barber (Ben) of Old Town, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her younger sister Barbara and her twin brother Jerry. Funeral services for Mrs. Jones will be held 2:00 PM Friday, December 7, 2018 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Chiefland Ward. Interment will follow at Keen Cemetery in Old Town. The family will receive friends at the Church in Chiefland one hour prior to the service. Arrangements have been placed under the care of Rick Gooding Funeral Home Cross City, Florida 352-498-5400 and Chiefland, Florida 352-493-0050. Please sign the online guest book at rickgoodingfuneralhomes.com