Memorial service for Bessie May Jones will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at First Baptist Church, Inola. Bessie passed away on Monday, October 2, 2017 at home with her family by her side. She was 78.
Born September 13, 1939 in Panama, Oklahoma to Clarence Eugene and Olo May (Fidler) Coulson, Bessie received her education at Rogers High School in Tulsa. On July 2, 1956, she married Billy Frank Jones at Miami, Oklahoma, and they made their home in Fairland for a time. Later, several places were home, until they settled between Inola and Catoosa.
Bessie was a wonderful mother, and took great care of her family. She loved everyone she came into contact with, and once she met you, you were a friend for life. Bessie worked outside of her home, cleaning for a family for more than 40 years. Her hobbies included fishing and working puzzles. She most enjoyed having her family around.
Those family members that survive include her children, David Wayne Jones and wife Vicky of Harrison, Arkansas, Charles Dale Jones and wife Kay of Catoosa, Kenneth Earl Jones and wife Fran of Inola, Brenda Kay Jones Hamon and husband Lance of Tahlequah, Fran Jones Bryan and husband Richard of Okmulgee, Raymond Jones and wife Sandy of Wagoner, and Wilbert Gene Jones and wife Becky of Claremore; 27 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and one on the way, and 1 great-great grandchild and one on the way; her siblings Gene Arthur Coulson of Locust Grove, Alice Anderson of Claremore, Kathy Shatto, also of Locust Grove, Sharon Shatto Miller of Tulsa, and Barbara Howard of Hulbert; her sisters-in-law Claudette Godsey of Miami and Virginia Jones of Miami, and many nieces, nephews and other extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Billy Jones, daughters Linda Replogle and Frankie Lynn Doughtry; sons Billy E. Jones and Nathan Leon Jones; granddaughter Missy Baccus, ter Shirley Johnson, brother A.J. Shatto, and her sister-in-law Davetta Jones Cox.
Those who wish to honor Bessie with a memorial contribution may do so by contributing to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123