Margaret Ethel Meyer Jones

Margaret Ethel Meyer Jones, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on Sunday, April 11 at the Kansas University Medical Center.

Margaret was born October 5, 1926 in Osage City, Kansas, the oldest of three children of Laura Thompson Meyer and Charles Meyer. Margaret grew up on a farm northeast of Osage City, attended a country school and then Osage City High School, where she graduated in 1944 as valedictorian. Margaret was proud to have been the Kansas State spelling champion in 8th grade.

Margaret attended Baker University, where she earned a BA degree with a major in Psychology. During her college years, she was vice president of the Phi Mu sorority, president of Methodist College Youth Fellowship, soprano soloist with the Baker Choir, and a member of Alpha Delta Sigma, an honorary scholastic fraternity.

Upon graduation in 1948, she worked for the Kansas State Board of Health in Topeka. On September 25, 1949, she married Harold Jones and, shortly after that, moved to Redfield, SD, where they became publishers of the Redfield Press and, some years later, the Webster Reporter and Farmer.

During her years in South Dakota, Margaret raised two children, Lynette and Steven, and was active in business and community affairs. She was president of the PTA; president of United Methodist Women; president of Chapter 2, PEO; president of Redfield Concert Association; and, a Cub Scout den mother. She was also very active in the United Methodist Church, teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir and serving on a number of committees. Margaret and Harold sang together at many weddings and funerals. She also performed in an annual community music production, the Follies, and with a singing group, the Eighth Notes. In 1965, Margaret received Redfield’s first Outstanding Woman of the Year award and, in 1981, was named the South Dakota Business and Professional Women’s Mother of the Year.

Margaret and Harold sold the Redfield Press in 1980 and the Webster paper in 1987. They travelled extensively around the world and particularly enjoyed exchanging visits with the Dutch family that Harold lived with while recuperating from wounds during World War II.

In 1990, they moved to Lawrence, KS. They were active members of First United Methodist Church, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, and joining a group that called on shut-in members of the church. Margaret participated in United Methodist Women and PEO (Chapter HZ) and served as president of the Round Table Study Club.

Margaret was passionate about her role as a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her home was filled with photos and newspaper clippings of her offspring, and she reveled in their accomplishments. A perfectionist, she was not shy about pushing her loved ones to excel. Margaret had a lifelong love of music and took great joy both in performing and performances by others. She was known by her family as an accomplished baker, and her homemade cinnamon and caramel rolls traveling with her on every visit to her children.

Margaret is survived by her husband, Harold Jones, of Lawrence; a daughter, Lynette Eastwold (Paul), of St. Paul, MN; a son, Steven (Mary Nohara), of Summit, NJ; 6 grandchildren (Rachel Moore, Sarah Eastwold, Claire Fuller, Andrew Jones, Peter Jones and Emily Jones); 13 great-grandchildren; one brother Carl, of Osage City; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Meyer, of Osage City; 9 nieces and nephews; and many friends.

Margaret’s funeral service will take place at 10:00 am on Wednesday, April 21 at First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont Street, Lawrence. Burial will follow at the Osage City Cemetery.

Contributions in memory of Margaret Ethel Jones can be made to the Music Fund at First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont Street, Lawrence, KS 66044 and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13^th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.