Bonnie Eileen McGhee Jones

MRS. BONNIE EILEEN McGHEE JONES was born on February 1, 1925 in Vinton, Ohio to her parents Henry Anthony McGhee & Lettie Mae Eblin McGhee and left to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 10, 2024. Preceding her in passing were an infant brother and brothers: James, Denver, Marcus (Max), Robert, Charles McGhee and sister Della McGhee Chasteen. Her husband of 71 years, Royce A. Jones, and a son, Charles A. Jones, also joyfully met her as she arrived in Heaven. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Nancy and Rick Townsend, daughter-in-law, Mary Jones, brother-in-law and wife Bobby and Dorothy Jones; grandchildren: Amber Elliott and husband Jason, Keith Jones and wife Chelsea, James Townsend and wife Lori, Bonnie Ann Webb and husband David; great grandchildren: Sadie Grace & Lincoln Elliott, Logan & Tristan Jones, Jordy & Evie Townsend, and Ruby, Tommy, and Wendy Webb as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and a large host of friends. During Bonnie's extraordinary life of ninety-nine years on this earth, she saw and experienced things that many of us could only imagine. She was born the youngest in a family of five boys and an older sister in the small farm town of Vinton, Ohio and developed a love of plants, flowers and animals as well as an overwhelming devotion to family and friends. She said the folks from their part of the state were known as "Hillbillies" and looking back they may have been correct! She milked cows, helped with daily chores, walked many miles to school, swam and fished in Raccoon Creek, and was protected by her older brothers even though they lovingly picked on her at times. One story that was told about this was that her older sister Della and older brother Denver nicknamed her "Tootle Peck" but the rest of her brothers called her "Squall Bag Tub-O-Guts". This would make her cry to her parents and they in turn would spank the brothers. So, she would get her revenge! She was a cheerleader at Vinton High School and also a Certified Cosmetologist. She met her future husband of seventy one years at a military dance in Ohio during World War II. She married Royce Jones on Sept. 9, 1945 and, after moving to several towns due to his military service, finally settled in Dallas, Texas where she lived for many years before retiring to Athens, Texas in 2000 on the Jones family farm. Her many friends and family members knew her as "Mom, Granny, Gran-Gran, & Ms. Bonnie". She was an accomplished seamstress and expert at knitting and crocheting. She loved tending her flowers and yard as well as caring for her pets and wild birds. While living in Dallas and raising her children, she taught most of the neighborhood kids how to water ski as well as teaching Sunday School and helping her children in the Boy and Girl Scout programs. She was well loved, highly respected as a hard working and honest friend and put most of her energy into loving her family. She was proud of her strong Irish heritage and her favorite movie was "The Quiet Man". In her later years when her health made it necessary to stay at home much of the time, she began to watch westerns on TV and probably saw every movie ever made by her cowboy heroes, Audie Murphy, Randolph Scott, and Joel McCrea! She loved Turtles chocolate candy, Blue Bell ice cream at night, and coffee and a sausage biscuit for breakfast. However, she would eat the sausage and save the biscuit for her neighbor dogs who would visit her later in the morning. She was a very thoughtful person! Bonnie was born with a diminished ability to smell or taste and we believe Jesus overwhelmed her with dozens of beautiful smelling roses and lots of delicious tasting candy when she entered Heaven and is waiting to share it with you! Funeral service for Bonnie will be at 11:00am, Monday, May 20, 2024 at the Chapel at First Baptist Church in Forney with her family receiving friends beginning at 10:00am to service time. A graveside service will be at 4:00 pm, at Oaklawn Cemetery in Athens, TX where she will be laid to rest next her beloved husband, Royce.

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Bonnie Eileen McGhee Jones

February 1, 1925 - May 10, 2024