January 10, 2018
Amy Stevenson Jones Spears passed away peacefully January 10, 2018 in her home on Hinson Road where she had resided for the past 38 years. Amy was born in Holland, Arkansas on December 5, 1928. She was youngest of four children born to Eva and Marvin Stevenson. Her position as the baby of her family offered her wonderful opportunity as a young girl as she often had the opportunity to travel by train to faraway places to visit her older siblings in California and New York. She was the apple of her father's eye.
After graduating from high school at the age of 16, she attended Arkansas State Teachers College (now University of Central Arkansas) where she obtained her degree in Home Economics. She served as a teacher and a home demonstration agent where she ultimately landed in Jasper Arkansas where she met and fell in love with her first husband, Don Charles Jones. They married in 1954 and to this union were born 4 children. As the family moved about the country over the next 25 years, she devoted herself to raising her children and home making. She was a superb seamstress, decorator, gardener and cook. In addition to this, she was active in multiple organizations such as United Methodist Women and Little Rock Republican Women's Organization. She obviously had natural leadership ability as she often served as president for the organization.
After being widowed in 1992, she married Whitey Spears in 2000. They enjoyed their golden years together traveling, gardening, entertaining and providing a home base for their large combined family.
She lived a rich and joyous life. She was an optimistic person and attributed that to her strong faith in a higher power. She had an incredible sense of humor and could tell the best jokes. She perfected the art of hospitality and conversation.
She is survived by her husband, Whitey Spears and her four children, Charles Jones of Elijay, Georgia, Elizabeth Andrews and husband Paul Andrews of Springfield, Missouri, Kathryn Jones of Denver, Colorado and Scott Jones of Little Rock, Arkansas; six grandchildren, Christopher Andrews, Thomas Andrews, Matthew Jones, Nathan Jones, Jackson Jones, and Keene Jones; her step-son, Myles Spears; step-daughters, Michele Richer and Melissa Casteel; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Celebration of Life ceremony will be Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at St. James United Methodist Church. Visitation with the family will be 5:00-7:00 pm, Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home. There will be a graveside service at 3:00 pm at Jasper Cemetery in Jasper, Arkansas. Memorials may be given to the Share Fund at St. James Methodist Church, a fund to assist those in need throughout our community.
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5 Condolence(s)
Brenda Upton Henderson Pratt
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
I am so sorry to hear of Amy’s death and wish to express my sympathy to all her children and grandchildren. I had not seen her since her health deteriorated, but she was an important part of my early years. She married my first cousin, Don Charles Jones, and I always told her that her example made me want to be a Home Demonstration Agent. I did achieve that goal and I retired after 30 years in various positions with the
Cooperative Extension Service. One interesting note, After, Don retired and was working in real estate, he was very helpful when my oldest son bought his first house in Little Rock. Cousins count! Amy was certainly a beautiful, gracious lady who will be missed by many.
Jane Stevenson Brown
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Dear Cousins & Uncle Whitey,
I had planned to come to Arkansas whenever Aunt Amy passed because I wanted to be able to see all of you and to lend you my support. Alas, I am disappointed that circumstances have not enabled me to come.
Please know I am there in spirit and I am so sorry for the grief you are experiencing. I loved my Aunt Amy and have so many happy memories of her. There are fun memories of summer days in high school in her pool, spectacular Christmas-time fudge, hearing her stories of her trip to California as a teen (she was in my Uncle John Calvert’s magic show at one point; she and her oldest brother decided it was best that her parents not know this!). I so treasure the time I got to have her and you, Uncle Whitey, to myself for about two weeks when you so kindly opened your home to me to stay when it turned out I was allergic to a pet my nuclear family had and I couldn’t stay with them. I so enjoyed the stories told to me during that precious time. When I last saw Aunt Amy in December 2016, she didn’t remember who I was anymore, but her sweetness and twinkle in her eye still shown through. She said “How could I have such a beautiful niece and not remember?!” She was still her loving self in there.
I think my very favorite memory of Aunt Amy is she and my grandmother Betty staying up until the wee hours of the night laughing and sharing stories. They were such good friends who enjoyed one another so much. There’s such a comforting feeling hearing the two of them together. If we listen closely, we”ll be able to hear them doing it again.... followed by my grandfather begging them to go on to bed. Nothing doing! Aunt Amy can remember all her funny stories now, is reunited with family members, and her laughter will fill the heavens.
I love you Aunt Amy, my cousins, and Uncle Whitey. Know I hold you all in my heart.
With love,
Jane
Jack and Carol Davis
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Our sincerest sympathy to you, Whitey, and the family. We didn't know Amy but she must have been a very special person. We are sorry for your loss.
Stan & Betty Garner
Sunday, January 14, 2018
We are so sorry to hear of the passing of your wife. Even though we never met her we know she had to be a very special lady.
May the Lord provide you comfort and peace during this stressful time.
Gregory Woods
Friday, January 12, 2018
I'm so sorry to hear of Amy’s passing. Loosing a loved one is never easy. I lost my dad in 2010, and my mom in 2012. After my losses, reading Revelation 21:3,4 gave me real comfort. It says: And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away. I hope reading these verses also give you comfort during this difficult time. GW