Obituary of Wilma Dean Jones

Wilma Dean (Baxter) Jones left this life, surrounded by family and love, at home on December 29, 2021. She was born December 17, 1929, in Howe, Oklahoma, at home, to Opal Mae (Shadwick) Baxter and Clyde Monroe Baxter. The second of 14 children, her life would be dedicated to family. She met her husband when he returned from World War II, through her older sister Pauline Jones Simpson. Pauline had married Ernest Jones and they introduced her to Ernest’s brother Eugene Jones. They were married January 19, 1948, in Waldron, Arkansas and remained together for 57 years until his passing on June 4, 2005. Together, they raised and supported 6 children, 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, in-laws, out-laws, family from all over, cows, pigs, chickens, dogs, and a partridge in a pear tree. She was Granny to everyone. Granny worked for a short time in Oklahoma City when she was very young, rooming with her Aunt Johnnie. She also worked for a short time after having children at Clay Boston’s Chicken Ranch (not that kind of chicken ranch). But the majority of her life was all about family and children, especially the babies. Granny was the ultimate baby whisperer. It was the babies that kept her going almost all of her 92 years. She made a garden every year, canned food, made the best biscuits & gravy and chicken & dumplings you ever ate, and quilted the most beautiful quilts. She always saw the best in people and has made everyone’s life she touched better. She will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her mother, Opal Mae Baxter; father, Clyde Monroe Baxter; husband, Eugene Jones; sisters, Pauline Jones Simpson, Willa Lou Baxter, Claudia Speers; brothers, PFC Lawrence Baxter (MIA Korea) and Claude Ricky Baxter; and son, Gary Lee Jones. She is survived by sisters, Christine Baker of Sand Springs, Imogene McEver of Tulsa, Clydia Fox and husband Harold of Arkansas, Peggy Evans and husband Archie of Poteau, and Brenda Standridge and husband Mike of Poteau; brothers, James Baxter and wife Jeannie of Tennessee, Clyde Baxter Jr. and wife Delores of Broken Arrow, and Danny Baxter and wife Jeanette of Poteau. She is also survived by daughter Phillis Thompson and husband Ted of Sapulpa, with whom she spent the final 7 years of her life; son Jack Jones and wife Sandy of Sapulpa; son Mike Jones and wife Elaine of Sapulpa; son Norman Jones and wife Dianna of Sapulpa; daughter, Jeanne McCool and partner Barry Burchfield of Grove; many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and other extended family. Viewing will be held Tuesday, January 4, 2022, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Green Hill Funeral Home. Services will be held Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at Green Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery at 2:00 pm, with her brother Clyde Baxter Jr. officiating.