Helen Millie (Nelson) Jones went home peacefully early Thursday morning, Nov. 2, 2023. She was 94.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Nov. 18, at the Holbrook Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with a visitation one hour prior.
The concluding service will follow at the Woodruff Cemetery.
Helen, or “Millie” as she was affectionately known, was born Oct. 8, 1929, to her parents, Hyrum Vance Nelson and Chloe Amelia Palmer. She grew up in the Binghamton community, near Tucson, along with her parents and 12 siblings. Millie was number 10 of 13. She attended school, played the violin, enjoyed Primary and had many wonderful friends.
On Valentine’s Day, 1947, Millie became engaged to Maurice LeBaron Jones and they were married a few months later on June 3, 1947, in the Mesa Arizona Temple.
She served lovingly in her church callings, some of which were as a primary teacher, young women’s secretary and Relief Society president. Together, she and Maury served in the Seattle Washington and Snowflake Arizona Temples.
Millie’s whole life was centered round her seven children, supporting them in their various activities and life’s lessons. She loved to sew clothes, create quilts and made countless loaves of bread! Oh, how she could make bread!! Her family adored her for that and the “Jones” tacos she frequently fried up.
Millie was a quiet but very strong woman who faced many hardships and tragedies with dignity and faith. Her example of compassion, goodness and peacemaker has touched many hearts over her 94 years. She asked for so little, but gave so much! She will be loved eternally.
Survivors include five of the children, Douglas Wayne Jones of Mesa; Steven Lamar Jones and wife, Marla Ashcroft of Mesa; Debra Lee Maxwell and husband, Steven Lyle Maxwell of Safford; Joseph Dean Jones and wife, Martha Rush of Kirkland, Wash.; and Rachael Elizabeth Jones of Thatcher; along with 28 grandchildren, 86 greatgrandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren.
Millie is preceded in death by her parents, Hyrum Vance Nelson and Chloe Amelia Palmer; her husband, Maurice LeBaron Jones; and their sons, John Allen Jones and Robert Leon Jones.
Owens Livingston Mortuary of Holbrook
