Our loving mother, Barbara Jean Elkins Jones, left her earthly home in Pima, Arizona and was reunited with the love of her life on February 4, 2021 at the age of 83.
Barbara Jean Elkins was born September 9, 1937 joining her older sister Shirley, to Bonnie White Elkins. She later welcomed three brothers, Marcus, Shawn, and Jim Kimball Elkins.
Although her family lived in several different places because of the work her father Viron Audley Elkins did, she spent most of her youth in the Mesa/Tempe area. She attended Tempe High where she made several lifelong friends. She graduated from Tempe High in 1956.
After graduating, she met the love of her life, Louis Cardon Jones, on a blind date. They married that same year and moved to Globe, AZ where Louis worked at a Standard Oil station. They soon started a family, first a son, Randal Wade and then a daughter, Leslie Elaine. Mom and Dad moved to Show Low, AZ after purchasing their first business, a Chevron gas station there. They had four more children, Melinda Diane, Duane Michael, Sam Douglas, and Carol Lynn. Mom had many part-time jobs to help supplement the family’s income while raising six children.
In 1973 Mom and Dad sold the station and purchased a Sears Catalog Store. They worked side by side making the business a success. All the children worked in the family store. Mom was the heart of that store.
The family spent many weekends camping, picnicking, or chopping firewood for the winter. Mom loved to garden and at times had a winter garden in Pima and a summer garden in Show Low in the same year.
Mom loved her children, grandchildren and especially her great-grandchildren. She was playful and fun. She attended as many games, matches, and events as she could.
But Mom’s greatest legacy was her service to others. She fed many. She took in strangers who needed a place to sleep. She served anyone who was in need. Her faith in Christ and willingness to follow Him was manifested in her daily actions. Her love for others was as boundless as her energy. She and Dad left a legacy of love that will be treasured and carried on for many generations to come.
Barbara lost her true love, Louis, in 1989. She is also preceded in death by her parents Viron and Bonnie Elkins, her sister Shirley and brother-in-law Jack Lydic, Jim’s wife Betty, younger brother Marcus, her son Randal, and several angelic great grandchildren. She also lost two very good friends, her second husband, Clay Bass and her third husband, Charles Ruddy. She lost her beloved in-laws Harry and Florence Jones and three wonderful brothers-in-law as well.
She is survived by two brothers, Shawn (Linda) Elkins, Jim Elkins, sister Donita Plauman, and her beloved Aunt Mary. Her children, Debra Jones (Randy deceased) Leslie Elaine (Troy) Overson, Melinda Diane (Ed) Shepherd, Duane Michael Jones, Sam Douglas (Rane) Jones, and Carol Lynn (Wally) Hicks. She leaves 26 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and numerous wonderful family members and friends.
A viewing will be held on Friday, February 12, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pima Stake Center followed by the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2021, in the Show Low Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. in Show Low, Arizona.
Arrangements are under the direction of McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel & Gila Valley Crematory. Online condolences may be extended at www.caldwellfuneralchapel.com.
