KANSAS CITY — Margaret Ethel Meyer Jones, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died Sunday, April 11, 2021, at the Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City. She was 94.
Margaret was born Oct. 5, 1926, in Osage City, the oldest of three children of Laura Thompson Meyer and Charles Meyer. She grew up on a farm northeast of Osage City, attended a country school and then Osage City High School, where she graduated in 1944 as valedictorian. She was proud to have been the Kansas State spelling champion in 8th grade.
Margaret attended Baker University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree with a major in psychology. During her college years, she was vice president of the Phi Mu sorority, president of Methodist College Youth Fellowship, soprano soloist with the Baker Choir, and a member of Alpha Delta Sigma, an honorary scholastic fraternity.
Upon graduation in 1948, she worked for the Kansas State Board of Health in Topeka. On Sept. 25, 1949, she married Harold Jones and, shortly after that, moved to Redfield, S.D., where they became publishers of the Redfield Press and, some years later, the Webster Reporter and Farmer.
During her years in South Dakota, Margaret raised two children, Lynette and Steven, and was active in business and community affairs. She was president of the PTA; president of United Methodist Women; president of Chapter 2, PEO; president of Redfield Concert Association; and a Cub Scout den mother. She was also very active in the United Methodist Church, teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir and serving on a number of committees. Margaret and Harold sang together at many weddings and funerals. Margaret also performed in an annual community music production, the Follies, and with a singing group, the Eighth Notes. In 1965, Margaret received Redfield’s first Outstanding Woman of the Year award and, in 1981, was named the South Dakota Business and Professional Women’s Mother of the Year.
Margaret and Harold sold the Redfield Press in 1980 and the Webster paper in 1987. They travelled extensively around the world and particularly enjoyed exchanging visits with the Dutch family that Harold lived with while recuperating from wounds during World War II.
In 1990, they moved to Lawrence. They were active members of the First United Methodist Church, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School and joining a group that called on shut-in members of the church. Margaret participated in United Methodist Women and PEO (Chapter HZ) and served as president of the Round Table Study Club.
Margaret was passionate about her role as a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her home was filled with photos and newspaper clippings of her offspring, and she reveled in their accomplishments. A perfectionist, she was not shy about pushing her loved ones to excel. Margaret had a lifelong love of music and took great joy both in performing and performances by others. She was known by her family as an accomplished baker, and her homemade cinnamon and caramel rolls travelled with her on every visit to her children.
Margaret is survived by her husband, Harold Jones, Lawrence; a daughter, Lynette Eastwold (Paul), St. Paul, Minn.; a son, Steven (Mary Nohara) Jones, Summit, N.J.; six grandchildren, Rachel Moore, Sarah Eastwold, Claire Fuller, Andrew Jones, Peter Jones and Emily Jones; 13 great-grandchildren; a brother, Carl Meyer, Osage City; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Meyer, Osage City; nine nieces and nephews; and many friends.
Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 21, at the First United Methodist Church, Lawrence, with burial following at the Osage City Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Music Fund at First United Methodist Church and sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th St., Lawrence, KS 66044.
Condolences may be left for the family at WarrenMcElwain.com.
