Shirley Ann (Stratton) Jones, beloved wife to Jack (d. 1952) and Sam (d. 1992) and cherished mother to Jan, Dalton, LeiAnne, and Tim (d. 2003) and best friend to all she knew, died Saturday, April 7, 2012. Shirley was a native Arizonan, born in Show Low on May 27, 1927 and lived most of her life in the White Mountains. She fulfilled her life's ambition for nearly 50 years as a nurse and then nurse practitioner. The last 30 of which working in Whiteriver, AZ caring for the Apache people she loved so dearly. Shirley never met a stranger. Within minutes of meeting someone she was getting your story and learning all about you, where you were from, who your parents were, how many children you have, etc. and then before you knew it you were being invited to dinner at her house. Then she would call regularly just to make sure you were okay. She genuinely thought of her friends as a gift that she needed to cherish and nurture, but we all knew she was the real gift to us. Shirley's family loves her beyond words or measure. We will miss her forever. Her husbands, Homer Jackson Howard Jr., Sam B. Jones Jr., and son Tim C. Jones preceded her in death. She is survived by three of her children, Janice Lynne (Howard Jones) Brenner and her husband Richard of Tucson, AZ and their two children Tony of Baltimore, MD and Beth also of Tucson, AZ, Dalton Jones and his wife Kelley of Arvada, CO and their two children Lauren and Kyle of Ft. Collins, CO, and LeiAnne Jones, of Phoenix, AZ. Her two sisters, Erna (Stratton) Cates of Winslow, AZ and LaJuana Stratton of Mesa, AZ and her two brothers, Phil Z. Stratton and his wife Donna of Mesa, AZ, and Lew Doyle Stratton, and his wife Sandi, of Escondido, CA. As well as many, many Stratton, Whipple, Jones and Howard in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins as well as her many long-time friends. Shirley's family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and kind words. We have always loved Shirley, but to come to know how many people she touched with her kindness, her love and heartfelt passion for helping others makes the deep sorrow we feel a little less painful. To honor Shirley's life, her family will be holding a Family visitation from 9:00 A.M to 9:45 A.M., for those whom would like to pay their condolences to the family prior to the service, and the Memorial Service will beginn at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the Pinetop-Lakeside Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1520 Church Lane in Lakeside, Arizona. A luncheon will begin at 1:00 P.M. at the Blue Ridge High School Cafeteria, 1200 West White Mountain Boulevard in Lakeside, Arizona. Please join her family in celebrating Shirley's life and mourning her passing by wearing something red, Shirley's favorite color. Memorial Contributions in Shirley's name to the Show Low Historical Society Museum, P.O. Box 3468, Show Low, Arizona 85902 have been suggested by her family. Owens Livingston Mortuary - White Mountain Chapel of Show Low cared for the arrangements.
