JONES, Leslie Josephine

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, AZ Thursday, October 20, 2011 Leslie J. Jones, of Cottonwood, passed away October 16, 2011. She was born May 29, 1917 in Cliff, New Mexico. She was a homemaker, and liked to crochet and watch softball. She is preceded in death by Paulette Jones and Paul W. Jones. She is survived by three children; Eremon Jones, Alvin Jones, and Judy Nickolaus. She has 23 grandchildren, 54 great grandchildren, and 13 great-great grandchildren. Services will be held Friday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at The Verde Valley Church of the Nazarene, Hwy 260 in Cottonwood. Information provided by survivors. ~~~~~~~~ The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 10/21/2011 Leslie Josephine Jones, 94, of Cottonwood died Sunday Oct. 16, 2011 at Verde Vista Care and Rehab in Camp Verde. She was born May 29, 1917 in Cliff, N.M. to Houston Moses and Addie (Stout) Reeves. At the age of 2, Leslie came to Arizona in a covered wagon with her family and settled in the Verde Valley where she spent her childhood, met and fell in love with Paul Willis Jones. In 1947 Leslie and Paul moved to Show Low and raised their children. Leslie became known as an accomplished seamstress, sewing country and western outfits, cheerleading uniforms, dresses and suits. Leslie and Paul spent seven of their 22 years in the White Mountains running the lodge at Hawley Lake. Leslie and Paul spent the next 10 years in Sante Fe, N.M. before retiring to Cottonwood. They spent their retirement hosting family gatherings. Leslie loved cooking for her family and, according to them, made the best homemade bread. They spent hours arguing over who would get the first roll out of the oven. Leslie spent hours crocheting, knitting, sewing, quilting and collecting angels. She loved rooting for the Diamondbacks and going to the softball games in Cottonwood where she was proud be known as their "number one" fan. Leslie is survived by her daughter, Judy Ann Nikolaus of Phoenix; sons Eremon Jones of Taylor, Alvin (Charlee) Jones of Pinetop, and Leroy (Lucina) Jones of Lordsburg, N.M.; 23 grandchildren, 54 great grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren. Leslie was preceded in death by her husband, Paul W. Jones; a daughter Paulette C. Jones; parents Houston and Addie, seven brothers and three sisters. Leslie's grandson Paul Crowther would like to invite family and friends to a celebration of life in her honor, at 6:30 p.m. Friday Oct. 21, at Church of the Nazarene, 1710 S. State Route 260 in Cottonwood. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Show Low Cemetery. Bueler Funeral Home of Cottonwood handled arrangements.