Lois Frieda Jones

Lois Frieda McGee Jones, age 97, went to be with the Lord and Saviour on March 7, 2013. She was anxiously waiting for his call. She was born December 18, 1915 to Lonnie and Bertha McGee in Lonoke, Arkansas. Lois was the second child of six children and she thought one of the great blessings in her life was being born on the farm with a father who challenged Abraham Lincoln on honesty and an angel for a mother. There were four brothers and one sister. We were taught to do right, work hard, and to respect other people and their property. Lois was noted for her smiling, optimistic, and enthusiastic disposition. She loved everybody and enjoyed life to the fullest, always looking on the sunny side of life. She graduated from Lonoke High School in 1934 and married Elbert L. Jones. In 1935 their daughter Elfrieda was born. Soon after, Lois received a call from her mother saying a teacher was needed for the little school where she grew up. Because her daddy was president of the school board, Lois had to get up a petition with the signature of every patron in the district to be hired. This she did for eight years. When her principal moved over to Toltec school and wanted her to be one of his teachers. She taught there for eight years. This was during World War II when her husband went to the army. It was decided that Lois should go to college. She attended the University of Central Arkansas where she received a Bachlelor of Science degree in education and a Masters degree in Elementary education. Lois taught at Jacksonville for two years and then she went into Little Rock public schools where she taught for over twenty years at Thomas Jefferson School. She could never say enough about how wonderful those years were, how cooperative, congenial and helpful the parents were and especially how she loved the precious children she taught. She admitted she was fair, firm and friendly and worked hard to get the most out of every child. Through out her teaching career she was a member of the Arkansas Education Association and the National Education Association. She was awarded fourth place in the nation by the Kazanjian Foundation for excellence in teaching economics in 1972. She was presented an award from Freedom's Foundation at Valley Forge for her service toward teaching patriotism and the American way of life. She was state president of Alpha Delta Kappa, and international Honorary sorority for women educators from 1978-1980. After she retired she became a member of Arkansas Retired Teachers Association and Little Rock Teachers Association of which she was president in 1992-1994. Her life was her church. She was saved when she was 14 years old and started teaching Sunday school for children at sixteen in her little country church. In her adult years she taught a class of women for several years at First Baptist Church in North Little Rock. After her husband passed away Lois moved her membership to Park Hill Baptist Church where she was involved in various activities. These included Andrew Teams, Mission Groups, Bible Studies and Women's Missionary groups. She served as president of career Women's round table group. She was director of Singles 1 for 18 years. She loved every minute of it and loved everybody and enjoyed life to the fullest. Other civic and community organizations Lois was involved in included North Little Rock Women's Club, serving as President in 1984-1986. She served as recording secretary of the Arkansas Federation of Women's Senior Clubs. She served on the boards of North Little Rock Senior Citizen's commission and children's services and opportunities for seniors. She was serving on the board when the Pennabaker day care center was founded for adults. She was a 50 year member of Jewel Chapter order of the Eastern Star. She served as Worthy Matron in 1956-1960. She was Grand Adah of the Grand Chapter order of the Eastern Star in 1961 and Grand Representative to Scotland in 1962. She served as Mother Advisor of Assembly #113 Order of Rainbow for girls North Little Rock in 1956 and was a member of the Grand Cross of Color. Those who preceded her in death include her parents Lonnie and Bertha McGee, her husband of 45 years Elbert L. Jones in 1979; her daughter Elfrieda Jones Frank; two brothers in World War II, Lloyd McGee and Marvin McGee, Carson McGee and wife Hattie, Glenn McGee and wife Dorothy, a sister Bertha McGee Scott Knott and husband Ewell Scott, son-in-law Kermit A. Frank and a dear friend Murray G. McCullough. Survivors include two grandchildren, Kermit Frank and wife Sarah, and Amy Frank Romano; great-grandchildren August and Scott Frank and Audrey, Lucinda and Charlie Romano. Lois's Sunday School department once took a consensus of opinion about her in one word (or short phrase) and the following is the list: always ready for a joke, checks on her friends, constantly takes food to others, so faithful, dependable, friendly, outgoing, caring, funny, understanding, always there for you, kind, giving person, always ready to do or help others, loyal, a worker, a good leader and thoughtful. The family would like to express their thanks for the wonderful relationship and love from every one for the devotion she enjoyed during all these years and especially from Single's 1 and June Stracner Class. Their love carried her through to the end. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at Park Hill Baptist Church, North Little Rock with Dr. Cary Heard and Dr. Ken Shaddock officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to service at the Church. Arrangements are by Boyd Funeral Home, Lonoke. www.boydfuneralhome.net.