Memorial services for Susan K. Jones, 62, Lawrence, will be at 1:30 pm Saturday, Jan, 18, 2014, at First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Matt Sturtevant officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.
Susan died Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014, at her home, following a prolonged and courageous battle with breast cancer. Throughout her life, Susan maintained her warm spirit of nurturing help for all, recognizing personal needs and finding helpful solutions. Susan was known to many through her work as an English teacher and tutor, and she touched many lives from many nations through the friendships she made and maintained while teaching international students of all ages.
Susan was born in Fullerton, Nebraska on August 1, 1951, the third of five children. She attended Doane College in Crete, Nebraska. She married John H. Jones in 1971 and moved from Nebraska to Florida, to Georgia, and then to a three year experience in Spain as a Navy wife. For many years, Susan cared for patients as a Registered Nurse. She moved with John to duty stations in Virginia, Texas, Japan, and California prior to his retirement in Lawrence after his assignment to the Naval ROTC Unit at the University of Kansas. Their family grew to include Stephen, his wife Jennie, and their children Rosemarie, Owen, and William, as well as their daughter Jeannie and her husband Steven Paulson. Susan’s interest in helping others led her to begin voluntarily teaching at Small World, where she taught English to international women and their children, and where she served as Assistant Director for more than twenty years. Susan also served the Lawrence First Baptist Church as a volunteer teacher and program leader. Her final days drew her community of friends and family even closer together, and her loss is felt deeply by many.
The family suggests memorials in Susan’s name to Small World, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.
Susan was a remarkable women, teacher, mentor and friend. During her 21 year as Assistant Director and teacher at Small World International School, Susan touched many lives. She will always be remembered fondly by our staff and her former students from every corner of the world.
As Director of Small World, I wish to convey our deepest appreciation for being named the recipient of Susan’s Memorial donations. As Susan’s legacy, our non-profit, all volunteer program will continue our work promoting international understanding and goodwill by teaching English, our American culture and customs to international women in our community.
John —
Diane and I are both so very sorry to learn about Susan’s passing. We have not be in touch with you and Susan for some time, but cherish our memories.
John, Stephen, and Jeannie,
We are sorry to hear of the loss of your sweet and beautiful wife and mother. She has touched so many lives and will be truly missed. May our Lord strengthen you with His love, comfort, and peace at this difficult time.
Bob and Paula Hahn
Dave and Rachel
Dear, dear John,
Though it’s been many years since we worked together at MSXI, your kindness and support were not forgotten. I know you were the tower of strength for your wife as she fought the good fight. I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved Susan.
I send my heartfelt condolence and pray that you and your whole family receive the peace that passes all understanding.
Holding you in my heart today……
Catherine Riggs
My prayers are with John and his family. He was always so devoted to his family and always was understanding as my manager of any familial commitments I had. I can only imgine his loss and am praying for your family.
It is with deepest sorrow that we learn of your loss. John and I worked together (as did several others who have commented) in the Training and Development Leader project at Ford Motor Company. There was an instant bond among our wives and among us. Please rest assured in the knowledge that our Lord God has chosen to call Susan home where she will no longer suffer from earthly pains and tribulations but live in glory and peace. May Christ bring you peace and comfort you bring this time of great difficulties. God bless you, brother John!
John,
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to you and your family. You are in our prayers.
John and Family,
Gina and I send our heartfelt condolences to you all. Susan’s life accomplishments and the family you built together have always been, and will continue to be, an inspiration to us. We are thinking of you.
Tom and Gina Gatliff
John I am very sorry to hear about your wife of many years. I know she is in a better place. I can not even image how much you and your family are going to Miss her. I also know you are a great person John Jones.I know that you will be able to continue her love to her family threw YOU!
God is with you John he will help you and your family get threw this.
I had the pleasure of working with you some years back and would love to hear from you when you get some time to chat.
vharbin@ford.com(502*287*3780)
My Susan Rest in Peace
God Bless You and Your Family
I will keep you guys in my prayers
Vaughn Harbin
John,
Sorry for your loss and deepest condolences to you and your family.
May our LORD Jesus Christ bring peace and comfort to John and his children as they mourn the loss of Susan, faithful mother and wife! In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen!
John . . . I am so very sorry to hear about Susan’s passing.
As Neal previously wrote I too worked with John in the TDL Program at Ford Motor Company. It is with great sorrow that I mourn with John and pray for strength from our Savior Jesus Christ. You are loved.
By the rivers of sorrow we sit and weep when we remember Susan. How can we sing the songs of joy to the LORD while in this “foreign” land? Yet GOD Almighty is faithful and is with us during these times of grief. Help us O GOD to remember with fondness the life of giving Susan gave to her family and her students.
“GOD is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of GOD; the holy place where the MOST HIGH dwells. GOD is within her, she will not fall; GOD will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; HE lifts HIS voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the GOD of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:1-7.
May GOD bring you all peace, in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Stephen & Jennie, Jeannie & Steven –
We are so sorry for the loss of your dear mother. I know she meant the world to all of you, and that her passing leaves an empty place in your hearts. We pray you find peace and comfort during this difficult time. We are thinking of you all.
It is with sorrow that I hear of Susan’s passing. I worked for, and with, John Jones for years in the Training & Development Leader project (in the Ford Motor Co. Assembly and Stamping plants) for a number of years. John and I, both retired Naval Officers, developed a bond from shared experiences and shared work. Through him, I learned about his family and we kept each other updated as children grew and life offered challenges. A warm and loving smile always came on John’s face when he was discussing his wife and children; his joy in his family was evident. I know Susan will be missed; I also know she was loved. RIP Susan, and stay strong Jones family.
John and family
I had the privilege to know and care for Susan before I took a new position in KC. She taught me a great deal about faith, courage and hope. We had many wonderful conversations about her family and faith. Words are inadequate to truly comfort you. Please know I pray for you to have peace in the midst of your tremendous loss and may all your special memories of her bring you joy. She is secure, and healed, in the arms of her Savior.
We colleagues of John at Fort Leavenworth were saddened to hear of Susan’s passing last Saturday. We know that she touched the lives of countless international families through Small World, Inc; and that she will be missed. We send our sincerest sympathy to the entire Jones Family, and Susan’s extended family at Small World.
Susan was always nice to students and volunteers of Small World. I will never forget her smile, and all the help she offered me. I’m really sorry for John, Stephen and Jeannie. Susan will be missed terribly in Small World. Rest in peace.
We were privileged to have Susan in our lives, not only as children but as adults. She added so much to each interaction. Susan has a shining soul and a happy heart as do all in her family. Her parents, Bill and Jean, taught her well as they did with Jack, Sally, Sandy and Jim. Her radiant smile and upbeat attitude will be missed for the rest of our lives. RIP Susan…until we meet again.
My prayers go out to you John, and the entire Jones family and all the friends of Susan. As one of Steven’s IS students, I only met Susan briefly, but it was a joyful experience of a women full of life and love.
We are so saddened by Susan’s passing. She was one of the sweetest people I have ever known- always positive, wonderful sense of humor, intelligent…She will be missed by many. We will not be able to attend the service, but know that all of you- John, Jeannie, and Stephen, will be in our thoughts.
John,
Our deepest condolences. Our prayers are with you.
John,
Dorothy and I are so sorry for your loss. The world is a lesser place without Susan.
– Ralph
We are so saddened to hear of Susan’s passing. We send our love and sympathy to you all.
I am so sad to learn about Susan death. She was always smiling and nobody could tell she was battling cancer. We will miss you at Small World.
Rest in peace
To Susan’s Family
Susan and I graduated from Fullerton High School together. Although our paths haven’t crossed much since 1969, it is always difficult to lose a classmate, a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, nurse, teacher and genuinely great person. Susan’s life has taken her many places and everywhere she has positively touched a lot of people’s lives. Susan may you now rest, receiving the blessing from our Lord. Greg Zabka
I am so sorry for your loss.
Susan was one of my dearest teachers. Even though, she was fighting with cancer, she always gave us warm smile. She touched so many lives and helped them to have happier life.
Rest in peace, Susan…
John, Stephen & Jeannie,
I am so very sorry to hear of Susan’s passing. She was always one of my favorite “moms” growing up and I know how much of an impact she made on each of us who spent any amount of time with her. She was a wonderful woman and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her. I am thinking of you all.
Rest in Peace Susan.. U touched my life in a very positive way.. I will never forget yr sweet smile and yr beautiful soul.. You will be missed