Ethel Grace Chiles-Jones

June 29, 1923 - July 25, 2016

Ethel Grace Chiles-Jones, of Sunrise Beach, Missouri, passed peacefully into God’s hands on July 25, 2016, at the age of 93. Ethel was born June 29, 1923, the sixth of nine children to William and Blanche Tullis Chiles near Deepwater, Missouri. She accepted the Lord as her Savior and was baptized at the age of sixteen on July 30, 1937, into the Park Grove Christian Church. She attended Park Grove Elementary School and was a graduate of Lowry City High School. She was united in marriage to Nolan E. Jones, December 27, 1941. Three children blessed this marriage. She and her husband, Nolan, lived on a farm near Deepwater, Missouri and raised Black Angus cattle. After moving to the Lake of the Ozarks in May of 1953, she joined Kent Memorial Lutheran Church where she served as an active member for thirty-five years. After raising her children, she enrolled in real estate school and had a successful business as a broker for Sunrise Beach Realty. She was active in Business and Professional Women’s Club of Sunrise Beach where she served as president and also held other offices. She served on the Good Shepherd Board of Directors and the Good Shepherd Housing Authority Board of Directors for many years. She went back to school at the age of fifty-seven attending the University of Missouri to become the first administrator of the Laurie Nursing Home and The Knolls Housing, which she had the honor of naming The Knolls. She was very active in the Camden County Republican Party Committee for many years. She took her civic duty seriously by voting for the first time at the age of twenty-one and never missed a national election. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Blanche Chiles, her son, Nolan Edward Jones, Jr., her husband of sixty years, Nolan Edward Jones, Sr., five sisters, Wilma Moree, Eva Nichols, Dorothy Schmidli, Nada Lyon, Kathleen Thompson and two brothers, Clifford and Strieby Chiles. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Lou Clary and husband Jim; her son, Michael Lee Jones and wife Debbie; Glenda Jones, widow of Nolan E. Jones, Jr.; thirteen grandchildren, Tammy Jones-Hursman (Louie) of Las Vegas, Nevada, Jimmy Clary (Karen) of Laurie, Missouri, Nolan E. “Chip” Jones (Susan) of Columbia, Missouri, Michele Clary-Chorpening (Jeff) of Laurie, Missouri, David Jones (Christy) of Sunrise Beach, Missouri, Lisa Jones-Taylor (Wade) of Grain Valley, Missouri, John Clary (Lynetta) of Sunrise Beach, Missouri, Michael Jones, Jr. (Destyni) of Sunrise Beach, Missouri, Thom Ed Jones (Stacy) of Sunrise Beach, Missouri, Brittyn Deves (Matt) of Keauhou, Hawaii and Eddie Freeman (Jessica), Chyane Lahay (Brian) and Channyl Agostini (PJ) all of Tampa, Florida; thirty-six great-grandchildren; seventeen great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Norma Jones of Lowry City, Missouri; many nieces, nephews and a host of friends. April 1956, a son, Nolan Edward “Eddie” Jones, Jr., as a little boy, wrote a book about his life that he dedicated to his mom and stated, “I dedicate this book to my mother the nicest mother in the world.” She was a precious blessing to all. Ethel will be remembered as a kind and gentle lady, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She was a wonderful Christian woman who loved her family and friends. Her great faith and a spirit of determination carried her through life. Her life was an inspiration to others. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and will treasure the memories she created for her family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 28th, at the Kidwell-Garber Laurie/Sunrise Beach Chapel with Pastor Bob Fenwick officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Thursday, at the funeral home. Graveside services and interment will be held at 5:00 p.m., Thursday, in the Lowry City Cemetery in Lowry City, Missouri. Memorial contributions are suggested to the charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Laurie/Sunrise Beach Chapel.