1921
Avis
2014
Avis Jones
October 10, 1921 — February 16, 2014
Rescheduled
Avis Winifred (Smith) Jones, age 92, passed away peacefully at a private home in Medford, Oregon on
February 16, 2014 and is with the Lord in Heaven!
A funeral service for Avis will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. at the Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home, 509 4th St., Grundy Center, IA with visitation held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow the funeral service at the Rosehill Cemetery in Grundy Center.
Avis was born on a farm near Stout, Iowa on October 10, 1921. Avis was the daughter of Fred T.
Smith and Orpha L. (Lynch) Smith from Grundy Center. Avis began her career at age 17 as an educator
in a one room country school near Grundy Center teaching kindergarten through eighth grade.
Avis married George DeVries of Kesley, Iowa on March 3, 1943 at the Baptist Church in Grundy
Center. Avis and George had one daughter, Penny DeVries. Avis later married Harold W. Jones of
Reinbeck on December 28, 1949. They had one daughter, Angela Jones. Avis and Harold began their
married life together on a farm near Reinbeck, and during this time Avis taught grades one through eight
in Holland, Iowa. They later moved to Rialto, California in 1960, where Avis continued teaching school.
Avis furthered her education earning a Master's Degree in Administration from the University of
Redlands. Subsequently, she became a junior high counselor and later a principal at
Bloomington Junior High School where she was loved and respected by all.
Avis dedicated her life to the love of students, parents and the community. She was awarded many
educational honors including induction into the California State Educational Hall of Fame and was
President of Delta Kappa Gamma women's educational sorority for many years.
Avis enjoyed a full successful life of her love of friends, for which she had many and the love of
education. Avis especially loved her husband Harold W. Jones and her family to which she was
extremely dedicated.
Avis is preceded in death by her husband Harold W. Jones who passed in 1990. Also preceding Avis's
death are her parents, Fred T. and Orpha L. Smith; her sisters, La Dean Ingersoll, Marlys Ross and
brother Fred T. Smith, Jr. Survivors include her two lovely daughters Penny Fike and Angela Pfeiffer
Malo; three grandchildren; Kristi Marshall, Matthew Pfeiffer and Christopher Pfeiffer, and two great
grandchildren, Alex Marshall and Charlotte Pfeiffer.
Avis Winifred (Smith) Jones, age 92, passed away peacefully at a private home in Medford, Oregon on
February 16, 2014 and is with the Lord in Heaven!
A funeral service for Avis will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. at the Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home, 509 4th St., Grundy Center, IA with visitation held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow the funeral service at the Rosehill Cemetery in Grundy Center.
Avis was born on a farm near Stout, Iowa on October 10, 1921. Avis was the daughter of Fred T.
Smith and Orpha L. (Lynch) Smith from Grundy Center. Avis began her career at age 17 as an educator
in a one room country school near Grundy Center teaching kindergarten through eighth grade.
Avis married George DeVries of Kesley, Iowa on March 3, 1943 at the Baptist Church in Grundy
Center. Avis and George had one daughter, Penny DeVries. Avis later married Harold W. Jones of
Reinbeck on December 28, 1949. They had one daughter, Angela Jones. Avis and Harold began their
married life together on a farm near Reinbeck, and during this time Avis taught grades one through eight
in Holland, Iowa. They later moved to Rialto, California in 1960, where Avis continued teaching school.
Avis furthered her education earning a Master's Degree in Administration from the University of
Redlands. Subsequently, she became a junior high counselor and later a principal at
Bloomington Junior High School where she was loved and respected by all.
Avis dedicated her life to the love of students, parents and the community. She was awarded many
educational honors including induction into the California State Educational Hall of Fame and was
President of Delta Kappa Gamma women's educational sorority for many years.
Avis enjoyed a full successful life of her love of friends, for which she had many and the love of
education. Avis especially loved her husband Harold W. Jones and her family to which she was
extremely dedicated.
Avis is preceded in death by her husband Harold W. Jones who passed in 1990. Also preceding Avis's
death are her parents, Fred T. and Orpha L. Smith; her sisters, La Dean Ingersoll, Marlys Ross and
brother Fred T. Smith, Jr. Survivors include her two lovely daughters Penny Fike and Angela Pfeiffer
Malo; three grandchildren; Kristi Marshall, Matthew Pfeiffer and Christopher Pfeiffer, and two great
grandchildren, Alex Marshall and Charlotte Pfeiffer.
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