Armentha June Jones, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at home on October 23, 2021 at 2:35 PM surrounded by her loving family at the age of 87. Amy grew up in Mt. Vernon and married her college sweetheart, Dick Jones, from Salem on August 20, 1954. Much of her married life was spent travelling for work with her husband. This journey provided the opportunity to experience living in 9 different states from Florida to Seattle, Washington before retiring. Upon retiring in 1992 she returned home to Mt. Vernon to be close to her mother, Ruby Clifton. Amy’s dream and bucket list included a goal to travel through all 50 states and 100 countries. She was able to enjoy visiting all 50 states. She visited the 50 states including all the Hawaiian Islands with her sweetheart and lifelong friends; check that item off the list! Throughout their years they were able to experience 83 countries. Many of these sweetheart adventures were with friends and Amy’s sister Myrna. Amy and Dick were able to experience 83 countries during her life. Some of her favorite trips were through the Nile River valley, seeing the Great pyramids of Egypt, walking the great wall of China, attending theatre presentations in London, England, and taking the night walk out to Ayres Rock in Australia. Amy’s quick wit, sense of humor and one liners always kept her family chuckling and smiling. Her children would ask “how to do feel?” she would quickly snap back “with my hands”. Always the teacher, she would often combine the humor with a teaching moment and when asked “where is it at?” she’d respond, “right before the at!”. Amy was also active in the community volunteering and participating in various endeavors. She was in Beta Sigma Phi sorority in Portland, Oregon where she severed as the president and headed several other groups. She was also proud to say she was part of the Portland presidential election committee for Bobby Kennedy, this was a very proud moment to have had the opportunity to shake his hand. She was also an active member of the Mt. Vernon Elks as well as the Class of ’52 high school reunion committee and organized and managed the “Kiss the Pig” fundraiser. She was a cancer survivor and although no buildings were named after her; no monuments erected in her honor, these energetic efforts led to a full lifetime of friendships where she cherished and loved each and every friend and family member. Given this wonderful life, how much more blessed could a person be? A famous quote is recalled “I was born, I blinked, and it was over” and Amy would be the first to agree, live every moment as if it may be your last and you will truly be blessed.
A Visitation will be held Saturday, October 30, 2021 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A Funeral Service will begin at 2:00 pm. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Memorials may be made in Armentha’s honor to American Diabetes Association or Susan G. Komen Foundation.Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.
Amy is survived by her husband, Dick Jones; sister, Myrna Rogers; children, Renee Maddison and Brent Jones; grandchildren, Angela and husband, Matt Muir and Andrew and wife, Taylor Manes; and great-grandchildren, Max, Ruby, June and Ted Muir, and Arthur Manes.
The daughter to Herb Wilkerson and Ruby Clifton. Amy was born in Mt. Vernon on August 24, 1934.
