Wyona L Jones

Wyona L. Jones, resident of Washington, Kansas, died Tuesday evening, December 25, 2018 at Washington County Hospital in Washington, Ks.  She was 90 years old.  Wyona was the fifth child of eight children of Lorne Thomas Dexter and Amma M. (Gauby), born on a farm affectionally known Bean Hill, September 8, 1928, in Washington County.  Her parents owned the local Mercantile Store in Hollenberg, Kansas.  The family then moved to Washington before moving to the Haddam/Morrowville area to a farm.  Wyona began elementary school at the Blocker Country School in Morrowville.  The family then moved to Marysville, Kansas where her parents began to build a home, splitting up siblings into family member’s homes during the construction period.  Wyona graduated from Marysville High School in the spring 1941. Wyona was united in marriage to Robert Charles Welch on September. 7, 1941, that ended in a divorce.  Wyona was the typical farm wife, always ready from taking lunch to the field, to rolling up her sleeves and help out with the farm task at hand.  She took on the role in making sure that everyone, including the men who came to help with the harvest had enough to eat, and a meal wasn’t complete unless potatoes and gravy were on the menu! Wyona and her family were members of the Methodist Church of Haddam, Kansas.  The family moved from Haddam, Kansas during the summer of 1965 to Wymore, Nebraska for a year, subsequently returning to Kansas during the summer of 1966 and taking up residence in Washington.  Wyona’s career outside the home started at the former Sam’s Café in Washington, Kansas all the while, as a single mother, caring for five children at the home and two grandchildren full time.  Eventually she moved on to being the head chef/kitchen supervisor at the former Swirly Top Steakhouse and Café on Highway 36 for that resulted in over 18 years.  It was during this tenure she began taking classes, studying nursing at a young age of 56 before Swirly Top closed for business.  During her employment at the former Swirly Top Steakhouse and Café, 1980-1981, again, as a single mother had two new grand-children to take care of full time while her son was assigned overseas in Japan. There was never any doubt, family was her foundation; if it involved family, all of her attention was directed to that effort without question, because that was the reason for life! She did not have one single selfish act or thought in her daily activities! After the Swirly Top Steakhouse/Café closing, she began her second career as a Licensed Practicing Nurse, working at the Homestead in Washington, Kansas for approximately 16 years.  Wyona had a very fruitful career, and when she learned that the laws were changing, instead of furthering her education to earn her RN License, she began to build a RV Camping Site (currently the Rose Garden RV Park) at her residence during 1990.  This idea came to fruit when Wyona met Arthur W. Jones Jr. of Wamego, Kansas and they were soon united in marriage on June 8, 1991.  They opened the park in 1991 and shortly thereafter, Wyona retired to manage it full time and enjoy her life with her new husband.  She made many friends while managing the RV Camping Site and enjoyed going to church activities; spending time with her family was now first priority; working in her backyard in a garden and enjoying tending to all of her roses and flower beds she built at her home became second. Wyona lost her husband on April 11, 2005, she continued to live independently until July 2nd, 2018 when she became ill and had to leave the home.  Wyona was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Arthur (Artie) Jones Jr.; sisters: Amma Majorie Flerchinger, Betty Louise Brannon, and Lila Mae Pardon; Brothers: Elmore Warren, Lorne Irl, and Gail Eugene Dexter; Daughter Shirley Ann Conley, and Son Thomas Floyd Welch.  She is survived by a brother, Dennis Dexter of St. Louis, Missouri; sons, Jerry Welch, Washington, Kansas; Larry (Helen) Welch, Washington, Kansas; daughter Sharon Welch Corby Joubert, Greenleaf, Kansas; 13 Grandchildren; 24 Great-Grandchildren; and 4 Great-Great-Grandchildren.   A funeral service was Dec. 29 at Ward Funeral Home.  Dr. Rex Fuller officiated with music provided by Charlotte Fuller and Sandra Kramer. Hymns were “Amazing Grace” and “Each Step I Take.” The pallbearers were Don Kamphaus, Aaron Welch, Les (GUP) Gauby, Kevin Keller, Kyle Zabokrtsky, and Jerry Svanda.  The honorary pallbearers were Lori Sotelo, James Welch, Trisha Parrack, Amanda Tobey, Kim Kamphaus, Tommy Welch, Shaundra Droge, Jeff Welch, Sara Miller, Anthony Welch, Jay Welch, Kayla Kostecki, and Katie Welch.  Interment was in the Washington City Cemetery.  A memorial fund has been established to the Grace Baptist Church. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home in Washington, Kansas. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Wyona L Jones, please visit our flower store.