Dena Rae Jones Reynolds

DENA RAE JONES REYNOLDS, 99 years young, passed away July 29, 2018, surrounded by family at home in North Little Rock. She was born Oct. 19, 1918 near Choctaw in Van Buren County to Cora Duncan and Samuel Oather Jones. Dena was a loving mother with a caring heart and a generous giving spirit. Her witty, fun-loving sense of humor endeared her to everyone. She cherished large family gatherings and enjoyed many close friendships. She was gracious and refined, a lady with a confident (sometimes spunky) demeanor, a flair for style and elegance, and a legendary "Lady Esther" creamy complexion. She is missed by family and friends for her unconditional love and devotion, her advice and counsel, and an occasional unsolicited grammar lesson. She is remembered for leadership to the arts community in Arkansas, and a passion for reading, current affairs, attending theatre and symphony concerts, and daily commitment to exercise. She was crowned "Dancing Queen" by her family for her lifelong love of ballroom dancing and pursuit of competitive ballroom dancing into her 70's and 80's. Dena grew up in Biscoe and Conway, graduating from Conway High School (1935) and from Arkansas State Teachers College with a B.S.E. degree (1939). In 1939, she married her husband of 36 years, Thomas L. Reynolds of El Dorado. While raising a family of five children in El Dorado, Dena‘s leadership began to nurture the arts throughout the state. Her love for the arts began with her service to the South Arkansas Arts Center (1964-68) and the South Arkansas Fine Arts Association (1964) in El Dorado, where she was a founding board member and held executive offices of both organizations. She was instrumental in establishing the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in El Dorado and served on the Board (1964-1974) in numerous capacities including volunteer Executive Director and Orchestra Manager of the Symphony; and helped found the South Arkansas Symphony Guild. After her husband's death in 1975, Dena relocated to Little Rock in 1985 to be closer to her children. She assumed Tom's position on the boards of El Dorado & Wesson Railway Company, Natural Resources, and Triangle Industries. After her move, her arts activities expanded. She was appointed to the Arkansas Arts Council by Governor David Pryor (1977) and Governor Frank White (1981). She also joined the Arkansas Community Foundation Board. A friendship with Cliff Baker, founding artistic director, stirred her passion for The Arkansas Repertory Theatre. She joined the Board of Advisors, served on the State Board executive committee (1985-92), and helped raise $750,000 as State Development Campaign Chairman. She was featured in High Profile (1990) and received the Arts and Humanities Association Award (1992) as "most valuable nonprofessional arts supporter in Little Rock." She was a member of the Country Club of Little Rock and Lakewood United Methodist Church, NLR. Dena was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Edra Faye Jones DiMassimo (Nick) and brothers, Samuel Oather Jones Jr. (Betty) and Orland D. "Buddy" Jones. Dena is survived by her brother Stanley H. Jones (Catherine) of Little Rock; five children, Dina (Jeff) Nash of Maumelle, Margaret (Eddie) Powell of North Little Rock, Martha (Jim) Parks of Dallas, Becky (Trent) Felton of Felton, and John Reynolds of Little Rock. She was lovingly known as DeeDee and Grandmother Dee to ten grandchildren: Allison Williams of Fayetteville; Laura (David) Marsh, Christopher (Tiffany) Haas, and Jennifer Haas of Fayetteville; James (Ashley) Parks III and Valerie (Tucker) Thomas of Dallas, Texas; Trent (Mendy) Felton and Jason (Laura Beth) Felton of Felton; Elizabeth (Christian) Chamblee of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; and Rebecca (Matt) Willis of Little Rock. Step-grandchildren include: Shannon (Tom) Smiatek of North Little Rock; and Brent (Misty) Powell of Birmingham, Ala. Other survivors include nieces and nephews: Lisa Griffith of Little Rock; Greg (Shirley) Jones of Little Rock; Doug Jones of Lexington, Va.; Jill Jones of New York, N.Y.; Tom (Stacie) Jones of Little Rock and Eugenia Jones of Little Rock, Jan ( Jeff) Fite of Oakland, Tenn.; and Cathy (Anthony) Strong, Eads, Tenn. Her 99 year legacy includes 23 great-grandchildren: Jordan Marsh, Alex Marsh, Wesley Marsh, and David Marsh of Fayetteville; Maggie Haas, Joshua Haas, Jake Haas, Luke Haas, and Ella Grace Haas of Fayetteville; Madison Parks, Emily Thomas and Natalie Thomas of Dallas, Texas; Trent Felton III, Will Felton, and Lee Kathryn Felton, and Margaret Felton, Jane Felton and Benjamin Felton all of Felton; Morris Chamblee, Clare Chamblee and Thomas Chamblee of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; and Felton Willis and Henry Willis of Little Rock; step-great-grandchildren, Jarrod Smiatek (Xaida-daughter) and Morgan Smiatek of North Little Rock, Gracie Powell, Cy Powell, Lydia Powell, Amelia Powell and Alice Powell of Birmingham, Ala. Dena wished to express gratitude to her closest friends who blessed and enriched her life including "adopted daughter" Celia Thompson, Dr. Daniel Felton with Little Rock Family Practice and Dr. Jeanne Wei, Director, UAMS Institute on Aging, for extraordinary and loving medical care, Celli Flores, Eleanor's Care Giving Service, and Arkansas Hospice. Memorials may be made to: Arkansas Rep Theatre (Save the Rep Campaign), UAMS Institute on Aging (specify UAMS Foundation Fund for Longevity Issues) in honor of Dr. Wei, South Arkansas Symphony and South Arkansas Arts Center, Lakewood United Methodist Church or Freedom 5One Ministries. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018 at Lakewood United Methodist Church, 1922 Topf Road, North Little Rock, Ark. 72116 with A Memorial Service celebrating her life to follow at 11 a.m. Cremation Arrangements Entrusted to Arkansas Cremation. www.ArkansasCremation.com.