Judith Joyce (O'Connor) Jones

August 15, 1934 - February 6, 2020

Judith Joyce (O’Connor) Jones, age 85, peacefully passed away February 6, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. She was born August 15, 1934, to Joseph and Hilda O’Connor. Her first home was Tortilla Flat where her parents owned and operated the store, post office and cabins. She graduated from Mesa High School in 1952. She met her eternal sweetheart Melvin Thomas Jones her freshman year during a school play in which they both had lead roles, where she got to kiss him on the cheek. In high school she was in journalism and helped write the joke column for the school newspaper and loved being a rabbette. She became engaged her senior year and then married 4 months after graduating when Mel returned from Navy deployment overseas. Her job history includes working at DeWitt’s laundry, Apache Drug as a soda jerk, the first female to work for the Mesa police department and Brown and Hoye as a switch board operator and accounts receivable clerk. She also worked for the Mesa School District as an enrollment clerk for the special education department where she retired in 1992. She enjoyed serving in all her various church callings and especially loved serving with dad at the Family History Center. Some of her favorite things were painting, fishing, bowling, camping, writing, poetry, Elvis, playing cards, crocheting and spending time with friends. She also loved eating Mexican Food, popcorn and sweets. She was a very devoted wife, mom and grandma who loved and cared for her family unconditionally, being surrounded by people she loved is what made her most happy. She never knew a stranger. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Ann and her 4 brothers Joe, Bob, Pete and Dave. Those left to cherish her memory and who loved her dearly are her husband Mel, five daughters Meludy (Jim), Jodie (Sam), Wendy (Doug), Kelli (Clifford), Traci (Frank), 19 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and her younger brother Don O’Connor. Public viewing will be on Saturday February 15, 2020 at 10:00 am followed by funeral services at 11:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints building located at 1150 E Guadalupe Rd., Gilbert AZ 85234.