Blanche Jones

Blanche Jones Blanche (Thompson) Jones died peacefully in her sleep at the Port Orange (hospice) Care Center in Port Orange, Florida at 12:15 a.m. on April 13, 2012. Blanche was a former resident of Lake of Egypt, Marion, but had been residing with her daughter, Samantra Wolf, in Daytona Beach, Florida, for the past several years while suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. Visitation for Blanche will be Tuesday, April 17, 2012 from 5 – 8 p.m. at Blue Funeral Home in Marion. Funeral services will be at 1pm Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at Lake of Egypt Christian Church with Reverend Leroy Waggoner officiating. There will be a time of visitation and fellowship from 11- 1 preceding the service at Lake of Egypt Christian Church, 12102 Malibu Lane, Sunset Harbor, Lake of Egypt, Marion. A private burial will follow at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Saline County. Blanche will be laid to rest overlooking the fields of the old farm where she was born in April, 1924. Memorials may be made to Lake of Egypt Christian Church, 12102 Malibu Lane, Marion, IL 62959 or Senior Adult Day Services, 409 N. Springer Street, Carbondale, IL 62901, where she spent many happy hours and was very well cared for in her early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. Envelopes will be available during services or may be sent c/o Blue Funeral Home PO Box 411, Marion, IL, 62959. Blanche was born at home at Walnut Grove, IL, on April 20, 1924, to Arthur and Polly (Gaskins) Thompson and was the 3rd youngest of 11 siblings. Blanche graduated Valedictorian of her class from Galatia High School, Galatia, IL, in 1942 and married Sam Jones of Harrisburg, IL, later that year. Sam preceded her in death in 1987. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Polly; three brothers, Harry, Raymond and Lewis Thompson; and seven sisters, Irene Hayes and Betty Byron of Harrisburg, Mabel Strickland, Mt Carmel, Florence Blankenship and Hazel Forrester of the Alton area, Vivian Mayfield of Marion, and Edith Cox of Katawa, KY; Children, Samantra Wolf, Daytona Beach, FL, Brenda G. Johnson, Carbondale, and Casey Jones, residing outside the continental US; grandchildren, Angela Stout, Lic. Cosmetologist, Harrisburg, renowned artist Rebecca Wollesen, B.A., Portland, OR, Dr. Amy Wolf, D.C., Brooklyn, NY, Stephanie Langley, R.N., B.S.N., Brandy Rector, L.P.A., Galatia, Abigail Stewart, B.S., Realtor, West Frankfort and Sara Mitchell, Coos Bay, OR; great-grandchildren, Ryan and Jordan Langley, Galatia, David, Luke and Andrew Morris, W. Frankfort, Damon Jackson and Lea Rector, Galatia, Sabrina Stout, A.P.N.-F.N.P; Danae’ Stout, B.A., B.J.; and Kaitlin Stout, B.A., all of Harrisburg and Blaze and Ronan Mitchell, Coos Bay, OR; two great-great-grandchildren,, Josalin Rae, expected to arrive in early May, 2012, and Olive Blanche, arrival date to be announced at a later date. Blanche owned/operated Lake of Egypt Realty and was the real estate Broker on Lake of Egypt for over 35 years; first there, and then as a Co-Broker with Century 21 House of Realty, Elaine Melby, Owner/Broker. She was a member of the Marion Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Realtors Association for over 35 years and acted as Secretary and/or Treasurer for Lake of Egypt Property Owner’s Assoc. for over 25 years. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2003 forcing her to retire from real estate. Blanche dedicated many happy years of her life to the improvement of the Lake of Egypt community doing the ground work necessary to promote the establishment of the LOE Water District and the LOE Fire District in the 1970’s and 80’s, and as a founding member of the Lake of Egypt Christian Church in beautiful Sunset Harbor. She volunteered often at her church as well as at the Shawnee Christian Nursing Home in Herrin, the Ministerial Alliance thrift store in Goreville and the Ministerial Alliance Soup Kitchen in Marion, among other places. Blanche maintained a home in Sunset Harbor as long as she was able. She has spent the past few years in the capable and loving care of her daughter, Samantra Wolf, R.N., in Daytona Beach, Florida.