Harriett Mae Jones

Harriett Mae Jones

Harriett Mae Jones
April 10, 1922 – June 18, 2017
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 95

Harriett Jones, 95, of Oskaloosa passed away peacefully Sunday evening, June 18, 2017, at the Oskaloosa Care Center. Harriett Mae Smith Jones was born, April 10, 1922, to Karl C. and Jessie Clemo Smith Nye in Preston, Iowa.

Harriett was a graduate of West Liberty High School in 1940 where her father was the Superintendent of Schools. She attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa for two years where she majored in Vocal Music and Creative Writing. It was there she met Lynden Beryl Jones of Oskaloosa. They were married March 7, 1943. Two children were born to them: Phillip Lyn Jones of Los Angeles, California and Nancy Elizabeth Jones of Oskaloosa.

Harriett lived all of her married life in Oskaloosa. She was very active in the community including the Central United Methodist Church—especially singing in the church’s Chancel Choir into her 80’s. She taught Sunday school for many years and participated in the United Methodist Women. She served on various community organizations that supported what she valued most; God, her family and her community. She was involved in the Whittier Elementary School P.T.A., P.E.O Chapter X for over 65 years, and IHN Kings Daughters and Sons. She was on the Hospice Board for two terms and became a Hospice Bereavement Volunteer for many years. She also volunteered at the Mahaska Health Partnership, greeting folks at the front desk for many years.

Harriett worked with her husband, Beryl, in the Jones Hardware Store in downtown Oskaloosa for almost 30 years. They worked as a team and closed the store together in 1989 to retire. Together they traveled the United States on bus tours with their friends. When Beryl passed away in 2003, Harriett continued to live in their home, with the support of her family, on Penn Boulevard until 2014.

Music and the arts were always her passions. She considered being on stage and singing to be her hobbies. She performed with Oskaloosa Community Theater and sang with the Community Chorus for many years. Harriett loved to tell stories of her youth, of her children and grandchildren. And, she loved going out to eat and playing Dominoes with her friends.

Harriett is survived by her children: Phillip Jones (& partner, Phyllis Babila) and Nancy Jones (& partner, Mark Dempster); her three beloved grandchildren: Allison Smith (& husband, Ryan Schmitz) of West Des Moines, Julianna Smith of Des Moines, Zachary Jones of San Jose California; and her great-grandson, Dominic Lynden Schmitz.

She had recently celebrated her 95th birthday in a room filled with flowers and cards from her treasured family, friends, and neighbors.

Funeral services for Harriett will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 28, at the Central United Methodist Church.
Burial will be in Forest Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at 1 p.m., Tuesday, June 27 at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel. The family will be present from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday evening.
Memorials can be made to the Central United Methodist Church Oskaloosa Iowa.