Mary L. Shimer Jones, an Elkins Businesswoman, age 78 years, a resident of Elkins and more recently a resident of Valentines Assisted Living Home at Beverly departed this life Friday afternoon, March 19, 2010 at the nursing home.
She was born Sunday, May 3, 1931 at Valley Bend a daughter of the late George W. Shimer and Ona Ethel Riggleman Shimer. She married Harry Richard Jones on December 31, 1949 at Elkins. She is survived by her two sons, Stephen (Wilma) Jones of Berthoud, Co., and Phillip (Melissa) Jones of Grand Junction, Co. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Laura (Bruce) Keller of Castle Rock, Co. and Shawn Jones of Johnstown, Co, and two great granddaughters, Kaitlynn and Calleigh Keller of Castle Rock, Co. . In addition, she is survived by five sisters Chloe Martino and Louise Cox of Fairmont, June Goodwin of New Bern, N.C. and Elkins, and Almeda (Jim)Huffaker and Doris Lyon of Albany, Ga., and one brother George (Roberta) Shimer of Garden City, Id. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Helen (Guy) Lantz of Elkins and Mary W. Jones of St. Petersburg, Fla., by one aunt, Virginia Yokum of Daily, and many nieces and nephews living throughout the United States.
Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by two brothers, Preston Shimer and Kenneth Shimer, and one sister, Hazel Shimer.
Prior to going into business for herself, Mrs. Jones was a cashier at the Davis Trust Company, installment loan, for 11 years. She left banking and became co-owner of McManus Gifts, Inc. and later sole owner. She was also co-owner of CaVar, Inc., a dress shop.
Mrs. Jones spent many years in service to the community of Elkins. She was both President and Vice-president of the Elkins-randolph County Library, past President of the Federal Plaza Committee, honorary chairman of the Cancer Drive, past chairman of the D & E College fund drive, honorary member of the Beta Alpha Beta and Phi Beta Lambda business fraternity at D & E, member of the College Aid, past President of the Junior Department of the Women’s Club and past President of the Women’s Club of Elkins, past President of the Alpha Sigma Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, member of the Board of the Heart Foundation, member of the Davis Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and Memorial General Auxiliary, State Chairman of the International Affairs for the West Virginia Federation of Women’s Clubs, and was a Trustee Member at Large for Davis and Elkins College for eleven years. She was the recipient of the Mental Health Achievement Award, the Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society in Business and Economics Award, the Gordon E. Hermanson Award, the Outstanding Business Woman Award and the General Services Administration Public Service Award.
Mrs. Jones’ request for cremation was honored, and a celebration of life memorial is planned for this summer. The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1111 Lee Street East, Charleston, WV 25301, Davis & Elkins College, 100 Campus Drive, Elkins, WV 26241, Valentines Assisted Living, Water Street, Beverly, WV 26253, or to the charity of your choice.
