JoAnn Jones passed away on June 23, 2015, in Bakersfield, California, following a lengthy illness which began in 2009. Born on August 31, 1924, in Seward County, Nebraska, the daughter of Erle B. and Anna Smiley. She was raised in Seward and nearby Beaver Crossing, Nebraska.
Her family had a poultry raising business in Seward and an additional business in Beaver Crossing known as the “Smiley Water Gardens.” Blessed with natural water wells on the Beaver Crossing property, the family grew and sold water lilies to customers around the world and the property’s park-like setting made it somewhat of a tourist attraction in those days.
After graduating from high school in Seward, JoAnn traveled to Chicago to study fashion design. This was during World War II and she eventually traveled to San Francisco, California, where she found work as a secretary during the last year of the war. One of her fondest memories was being on the streets of San Francisco on VJ day in August 1945.
Returning to Nebraska after the war, JoAnn met and married Merrill A. Gadeke. Merrill, JoAnn, and son Gary moved to San Diego, California, in 1955. There, both Merrill and JoAnn found work at Convair, a division of General Dynamics, which at the time, was a major defense contractor. JoAnn worked as an executive secretary or administrative assistant over the years at Convair, and later at major banks and mortgage companies in San Diego.
Early in the 1960’s, Merrill and JoAnn divorced. In 1966, JoAnn married Bascom S. Jones. Jr. The couple moved to Laguna Beach, California, where they built a beautiful home overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Balboa Island. Bascom and JoAnn both became interested in artistic pursuits. They studied painting and pottery. Bascom had a long family connection with the magic arts. He published for many years a newsletter titled Magick and JoAnn, who had developed an interest in miniature or doll furniture, published a newsletter on that subject entitled Small Talk.
After retirement in 1986, JoAnn and Bascom moved to Bakersfield, California. For many years they continued to pursue their interests and traveled in a motorhome with their three toy poodles. Bascom passed away in 1994, but life was not finished for JoAnn. After Bascom’s passing, JoAnn was reunited with her high school sweetheart, Richard Blacker. Richard moved from Iowa to be with JoAnn and together they enjoyed many years together traveling in their motorhome and spending time at their vacation home in Apache Junction, Arizona, until Richard passed away in 2011. Some of their fondest memories where the trips and campouts with the Roving Elks with whom they made many wonderful friends.
Later in life JoAnn developed a passion for quilts and quilting. She spent many enjoyable times with her many friends and niece Gail Miller in the quilting community.
JoAnn enjoyed a full and active life, pursued her interests and lived life on her own terms. She was preceded in death by her parents, Erle B. and Anna Smiley; husband Bascom S. Jones Jr.; loving companion Richard H. Blacker; and nephew Matthew Smiley.
She is survived by: son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Nanette Gadeke; sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Marvin Schulz; brother and sister-in-law, Don and Pat Smiley; granddaughters, Jeanine Weagant; JoAnna Mina and husband Frank; Melissa Mondragon and husband Hernando; Sarah Damo and husband Tony; great grandchildren, Parker, Grayson and Lucas Mina; Sydney, Ava and Jack Damo; and Max, Sadie and Ruby Mondragon; many nephews, nieces and their children and grandchildren.
Graveside service and inurnment Monday August 31, 2015, at Seward Cemetery.
Obituary information from Zabka Funeral Home.
Her family had a poultry raising business in Seward and an additional business in Beaver Crossing known as the “Smiley Water Gardens.” Blessed with natural water wells on the Beaver Crossing property, the family grew and sold water lilies to customers around the world and the property’s park-like setting made it somewhat of a tourist attraction in those days.
After graduating from high school in Seward, JoAnn traveled to Chicago to study fashion design. This was during World War II and she eventually traveled to San Francisco, California, where she found work as a secretary during the last year of the war. One of her fondest memories was being on the streets of San Francisco on VJ day in August 1945.
Returning to Nebraska after the war, JoAnn met and married Merrill A. Gadeke. Merrill, JoAnn, and son Gary moved to San Diego, California, in 1955. There, both Merrill and JoAnn found work at Convair, a division of General Dynamics, which at the time, was a major defense contractor. JoAnn worked as an executive secretary or administrative assistant over the years at Convair, and later at major banks and mortgage companies in San Diego.
Early in the 1960’s, Merrill and JoAnn divorced. In 1966, JoAnn married Bascom S. Jones. Jr. The couple moved to Laguna Beach, California, where they built a beautiful home overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Balboa Island. Bascom and JoAnn both became interested in artistic pursuits. They studied painting and pottery. Bascom had a long family connection with the magic arts. He published for many years a newsletter titled Magick and JoAnn, who had developed an interest in miniature or doll furniture, published a newsletter on that subject entitled Small Talk.
After retirement in 1986, JoAnn and Bascom moved to Bakersfield, California. For many years they continued to pursue their interests and traveled in a motorhome with their three toy poodles. Bascom passed away in 1994, but life was not finished for JoAnn. After Bascom’s passing, JoAnn was reunited with her high school sweetheart, Richard Blacker. Richard moved from Iowa to be with JoAnn and together they enjoyed many years together traveling in their motorhome and spending time at their vacation home in Apache Junction, Arizona, until Richard passed away in 2011. Some of their fondest memories where the trips and campouts with the Roving Elks with whom they made many wonderful friends.
Later in life JoAnn developed a passion for quilts and quilting. She spent many enjoyable times with her many friends and niece Gail Miller in the quilting community.
JoAnn enjoyed a full and active life, pursued her interests and lived life on her own terms. She was preceded in death by her parents, Erle B. and Anna Smiley; husband Bascom S. Jones Jr.; loving companion Richard H. Blacker; and nephew Matthew Smiley.
She is survived by: son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Nanette Gadeke; sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Marvin Schulz; brother and sister-in-law, Don and Pat Smiley; granddaughters, Jeanine Weagant; JoAnna Mina and husband Frank; Melissa Mondragon and husband Hernando; Sarah Damo and husband Tony; great grandchildren, Parker, Grayson and Lucas Mina; Sydney, Ava and Jack Damo; and Max, Sadie and Ruby Mondragon; many nephews, nieces and their children and grandchildren.
Graveside service and inurnment Monday August 31, 2015, at Seward Cemetery.
Obituary information from Zabka Funeral Home.
JoAnn Jones passed away on June 23, 2015, in Bakersfield, California, following a lengthy illness which began in 2009. Born on August 31, 1924, in Seward County, Nebraska, the daughter of Erle B. and Anna Smiley. She was raised in Seward and nearby Beaver Crossing, Nebraska.
Her family had a poultry raising business in Seward and an additional business in Beaver Crossing known as the “Smiley Water Gardens.” Blessed with natural water wells on the Beaver Crossing property, the family grew and sold water lilies to customers around the world and the property’s park-like setting made it somewhat of a tourist attraction in those days.
After graduating from high school in Seward, JoAnn traveled to Chicago to study fashion design. This was during World War II and she eventually traveled to San Francisco, California, where she found work as a secretary during the last year of the war. One of her fondest memories was being on the streets of San Francisco on VJ day in August 1945.
Returning to Nebraska after the war, JoAnn met and married Merrill A. Gadeke. Merrill, JoAnn, and son Gary moved to San Diego, California, in 1955. There, both Merrill and JoAnn found work at Convair, a division of General Dynamics, which at the time, was a major defense contractor. JoAnn worked as an executive secretary or administrative assistant over the years at Convair, and later at major banks and mortgage companies in San Diego.
Early in the 1960’s, Merrill and JoAnn divorced. In 1966, JoAnn married Bascom S. Jones. Jr. The couple moved to Laguna Beach, California, where they built a beautiful home overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Balboa Island. Bascom and JoAnn both became interested in artistic pursuits. They studied painting and pottery. Bascom had a long family connection with the magic arts. He published for many years a newsletter titled Magick and JoAnn, who had developed an interest in miniature or doll furniture, published a newsletter on that subject entitled Small Talk.
After retirement in 1986, JoAnn and Bascom moved to Bakersfield, California. For many years they continued to pursue their interests and traveled in a motorhome with their three toy poodles. Bascom passed away in 1994, but life was not finished for JoAnn. After Bascom’s passing, JoAnn was reunited with her high school sweetheart, Richard Blacker. Richard moved from Iowa to be with JoAnn and together they enjoyed many years together traveling in their motorhome and spending time at their vacation home in Apache Junction, Arizona, until Richard passed away in 2011. Some of their fondest memories where the trips and campouts with the Roving Elks with whom they made many wonderful friends.
Later in life JoAnn developed a passion for quilts and quilting. She spent many enjoyable times with her many friends and niece Gail Miller in the quilting community.
JoAnn enjoyed a full and active life, pursued her interests and lived life on her own terms. She was preceded in death by her parents, Erle B. and Anna Smiley; husband Bascom S. Jones Jr.; loving companion Richard H. Blacker; and nephew Matthew Smiley.
She is survived by: son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Nanette Gadeke; sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Marvin Schulz; brother and sister-in-law, Don and Pat Smiley; granddaughters, Jeanine Weagant; JoAnna Mina and husband Frank; Melissa Mondragon and husband Hernando; Sarah Damo and husband Tony; great grandchildren, Parker, Grayson and Lucas Mina; Sydney, Ava and Jack Damo; and Max, Sadie and Ruby Mondragon; many nephews, nieces and their children and grandchildren.
Graveside service and inurnment Monday August 31, 2015, at Seward Cemetery.
Obituary information from Zabka Funeral Home.
Her family had a poultry raising business in Seward and an additional business in Beaver Crossing known as the “Smiley Water Gardens.” Blessed with natural water wells on the Beaver Crossing property, the family grew and sold water lilies to customers around the world and the property’s park-like setting made it somewhat of a tourist attraction in those days.
After graduating from high school in Seward, JoAnn traveled to Chicago to study fashion design. This was during World War II and she eventually traveled to San Francisco, California, where she found work as a secretary during the last year of the war. One of her fondest memories was being on the streets of San Francisco on VJ day in August 1945.
Returning to Nebraska after the war, JoAnn met and married Merrill A. Gadeke. Merrill, JoAnn, and son Gary moved to San Diego, California, in 1955. There, both Merrill and JoAnn found work at Convair, a division of General Dynamics, which at the time, was a major defense contractor. JoAnn worked as an executive secretary or administrative assistant over the years at Convair, and later at major banks and mortgage companies in San Diego.
Early in the 1960’s, Merrill and JoAnn divorced. In 1966, JoAnn married Bascom S. Jones. Jr. The couple moved to Laguna Beach, California, where they built a beautiful home overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Balboa Island. Bascom and JoAnn both became interested in artistic pursuits. They studied painting and pottery. Bascom had a long family connection with the magic arts. He published for many years a newsletter titled Magick and JoAnn, who had developed an interest in miniature or doll furniture, published a newsletter on that subject entitled Small Talk.
After retirement in 1986, JoAnn and Bascom moved to Bakersfield, California. For many years they continued to pursue their interests and traveled in a motorhome with their three toy poodles. Bascom passed away in 1994, but life was not finished for JoAnn. After Bascom’s passing, JoAnn was reunited with her high school sweetheart, Richard Blacker. Richard moved from Iowa to be with JoAnn and together they enjoyed many years together traveling in their motorhome and spending time at their vacation home in Apache Junction, Arizona, until Richard passed away in 2011. Some of their fondest memories where the trips and campouts with the Roving Elks with whom they made many wonderful friends.
Later in life JoAnn developed a passion for quilts and quilting. She spent many enjoyable times with her many friends and niece Gail Miller in the quilting community.
JoAnn enjoyed a full and active life, pursued her interests and lived life on her own terms. She was preceded in death by her parents, Erle B. and Anna Smiley; husband Bascom S. Jones Jr.; loving companion Richard H. Blacker; and nephew Matthew Smiley.
She is survived by: son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Nanette Gadeke; sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Marvin Schulz; brother and sister-in-law, Don and Pat Smiley; granddaughters, Jeanine Weagant; JoAnna Mina and husband Frank; Melissa Mondragon and husband Hernando; Sarah Damo and husband Tony; great grandchildren, Parker, Grayson and Lucas Mina; Sydney, Ava and Jack Damo; and Max, Sadie and Ruby Mondragon; many nephews, nieces and their children and grandchildren.
Graveside service and inurnment Monday August 31, 2015, at Seward Cemetery.
Obituary information from Zabka Funeral Home.
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