Frances Olean Jones

Frances Olene Wait Jones, 88, passed away Thursday Evening {March 14, 2024} at Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation. She was born Oct. 19, 1935, to Ola Anders Wait and Wilbur Francis Wait in Kirksville, MO. She was married to Gerald L. Jones Dec. 23rd , 1956, where they called home through 2002.

Surviving Frances are her daughter, Angelia Jones Crossley and her husband Robert of Kansas City, KS.

Frances graduated Kirksville Senior High and Northeast Missouri Teacher’s College. She then taught at Brashear for a short time before going full time at the then Citizen’s National Bank of Kirksville, later Commerce Bank. After retirement, she became a substitute teacher in Kirksville. This was her true calling.

Frances was active in the First Presbyterian Church of Kirksville, Adair County Republican Party, Girl Scouts and 4-H. She loved dancing with Gerald at the Moose and later at the Shrine Club.

Moving to Kansas City in 2007, she quickly became active in numerous activities wherever she lived. She served as Resident Council President in both Delaware Highlands Assisted Living and Riverbend Post Acute. She tended a small garden in the last few years of her life and shared her tomatoes with her neighbors.

“Fran” was loved and respected by the staff of Riverbend. Stories of her standing up for their rights to the management and for them to get higher pay were widely shared. This lifelong Republican was acting as a union leader for her caretakers.

Cremation at Amos Funeral Home. Private, family services will be held at a later date.