Jane Jones

It is with heartfelt sadness that I announce the passing of my sweet mother, Shirley Jane Wilson-Jones. It is with absolute joy, that I proclaim that I know my mother went home to her Heavenly Father, as well as her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jane was surrounded by her family and went to sleep peacefully. She had suffered tremendously the last few years from Parkinson's Disease.

Mom was born in Hendersonville, North Carolina. She was the youngest of 7 children; 2 boys and 5 girls. The kid's early life was difficult; before and during World War II, from 18 months to 8 years of age, She and her sisters lived in the Bruner Home for Children, ran by the Salvation Army, in Greenville, South Carolina. Her older brothers, although both too young to join, lied about their ages, and enlisted in the military and went off and fought in World War II. One ended up being a 3 war Veteran of the US Navy. (Christopher Wilson. Master Chief, USN (retired).

The family later reunited, after my grandmother remarried and could somewhat sustain the family. They and the younger girls moved to Roswell, New Mexico. Mom later was taken in by a foster family, Ray and Marie Frazier after moving to Hobbs. They were ultimately the best grandparents I could have ever imagined. As a teenage girl, they were the first real break in life my mother ever had. Mom graduated at 17 from Hobbs High School in the summer of 1957. She worked as a ticket taker at the Real Theater, off Broadway in Hobbs, New Mexico.

A young serviceman, who had recently come home from serving in the Army, as a Military Policeman, took a fancy to her and asked one of their mutual friends to introduce them. His name was Earl Lee Jones. He was from Ada, Oklahoma, and had come to Hobbs, straight out of Army to pursue work in the Oil Boom of the Permian Basin. It must have gone well as they married in Hobbs on July 15, 1957. They lived in Hobbs for a while before moving to Artesia, NM for almost 13 years, where they both worked in the oil and gas industry. They later had a son, Aaron Todd Jones in December of 1965. They ended up moving to Elida, New Mexico, where they started Chaveroo Supply Company.

In 1968 they moved the family and the business to Tatum, New Mexico. The store was on the corner of Main and Broadway, across from the famous Steak House Cafe. In 1970 they built a new store on the corner of James Road and US-380. A short time later they bought 20 acres down the street on James Road and built our long-time family home there in Tatum. It was a wonderful place to grow up.

Earl and Jane had 3 children. Aaron was born in 1965. Mom couldn't have children after that and they become foster parents in 1970. Leesa Marie Jones, was ultimately adopted by Mom and Dad. She was and has been so good to our Mama.

In 1977, they took in a little boy at 3 days old and ultimately attempted to adopt him. We all, especially my mother, had absolutely fallen in love with Jonathan Brooks Jones. After 3 months, a government case worker decided that a white family shouldn't have black child and took the baby away to live with another family. My mother was absolutely devastated and cried day and night for her baby. I was 12 at the time and was not smart enough to know that you can't fight city hall. I wrote a letter to then Governor Jerry Apodaca and pleaded with him to help us get my little brother back. Lo and behold, we received a letter back from Governor Apodaca. With this inspiration, the legal battle with the State of Mexico began. People from Lea County showed up in droves in Santa Fe, to testify on behalf of the Jones Family and why it was imperative we get Jonathan back. 3 months later, we won, and Jonathan came back home.

Mom later went back to school and attended New Mexico Junior College in her 40's. She graduated there and went to Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, where she got a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Master's degree, with honors, in Speech Language Pathology.

In 1994-95 mom got extremely ill and she should have died then. She was poisoned by a statin drug that the doctors couldn't seem to diagnose. Mom had wanted me to go into business with her as a Physical Therapist. I was about to become a police officer in Los Angeles, but I humored her and attended a healing art college in Santa Monica. I was so impressed with Dr. David Crow, I told mom about him. He later healed her with eastern medicine, when she was literally on the verge of death. I would later go back to my dream and became a police officer / detective. Mom would always talk about how none of the parents at our academy graduation were excited about our chosen careers. Especially after Rodney King and the LA Riots. Mom backed me throughout my career and all my endeavors. She was my best friend.

Mom later would start her own SLP Business, Therapy Plus, Inc, where she excelled for several years. Mom would later involuntarily give up her business in 2005 due to caring for my father, who was in the hospital, in Lubbock, Texas, for over a year after brain and open-heart surgery, with major complications. With Mom's background, she knew that hospitals would kill you if you don't have an advocate there with you as much as possible. She was there day and night for months. They damn near killed him a few times. Mom caught the mistakes, with her ever watchful care, and Dad not only survived, he made it for 18 more years. He ultimately passed on Thanksgiving Day 2023.

My mother had served on the Tatum School board back in the mid-late 70's. Mother had a calling for service. Cub scouts, Boy Scouts, service at church, you name it, she did it. With a joyful heart. She did so much good for so many people as an SLP. Many people who had terrible situations where she taught them to speak, swallow and even eat again after strokes, accidents or all kinds of awful situations.

After my dad got better, she ultimately went to work for Hobbs Schools for several years. She was their top performer, even at 82 years old when she ultimately retired. The whole Covid nightmare ultimately wore her out, not being able to be hands on with her kids. She refused to take the jab, thank God, and the zoom calls were just not the same to be able to get success for her kids, and she had a bunch of them. It wore her out.

Mom was 82 when she retired in 2021 on a Friday. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease the following Monday. It was a cruel end of a beautiful career of selfless service to her fellow man, woman and child. Mom knew all too well what was in store for her, with Parkinson's, from her experience as an SLP and dealing with the medical field, nursing homes, and the sort. In 2024 she found a clinical study in the British Virgin Islands that was a "Hail Mary" for a possible cure. She cashed out a huge chunk of her retirement to attend, and I came up with the rest to get her there. It ended up not working for her and did not do her or any other attendees any good, so it seemed as they became allies dealing with this horrible, currently incurable disease. However, we will never regret going, as it was the trip of a lifetime (see photo) and the chance for mother and son to catch up on a lifetime of service, goodwill and always trying to do the right thing, no matter what the outcome for us. When they say the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree, never a truer statement has been made. It has caused us a world of grief, but we wouldn't change any of it. Life is a journey. A chance to do good on this earth and to work our way back to our Heavenly Father and his son.

My mother was a saint; Maybe not ordained, but I have no doubt that the Good Lord welcomed her home, with open arms, as a good and faithful servant. She and every one of her family, against all odds, picked themselves up by the bootstraps, and every single one of them became outstanding, productive citizens and patriots of the United States of America. Most of them served in the US military or were a part of a military family. Mom loved this country like no one's business. She loved President Donald J. Trump and was so thankful she was able to live long enough to see him come back into office and began to fix this country.

Mom was preceded in death by her mother, her father, her brother Chris, her brother Bob, her sister, Joan, her sister Donna, many others that I'm sorry I haven't mentioned. She loved them all.

Mom is survived by her 3 Children, their families, 2 sisters, Neva and Nannette, their families, her children, their families, grandchildren, great grandchildren and lots of nieces and nephews. She had many friends and colleagues who will sorely miss her and have been extremely supportive, As has her family, friends and neighbors.

We love you, Mom. I love you. We will miss you. We are all looking forward to the day we will see you again. Families are Forever. Amen.