M. Karen Jones, 76
A memorial service for M. Karen Gilliam Jones, 76, of Springfield, formerly of Gainesville, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home in West Plains. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Mrs. Jones died March 17, 2020, at the Maple Wood Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in Springfield.
She was born May 31, 1943, at Christa Hogan Hospital in West Plains, the daughter of Ted and Jeanette Boss Gilliam. She grew up on the family dairy farm in Peace Valley with siblings John, Rita, Mick and Dennis. She attended St. Joseph grade school in White Church through eighth grade and then graduated from West Plains High School in 1960.
After high school, she went to work for the city of Springfield, but her tenure there was short-lived when they realized she was not yet 18 years old, having graduated high school when she was only 16. Shortly afterward, she worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Winona as a secretary and dispatcher for eight years.
While in Winona, she met Roy Nelson Jones, the love of her life. They were married on Christmas Day 1964 at St. Joseph Church in White Church. At the time of her death, they had been happily married for over 55 years. Karen and Roy were blessed with two daughters: Jacquelyn Ann, born May 13, 1968, and Janet Alane, born May 12, 1969.
In 1965, while living in Winona, the Joneses started a registered Angus herd, Jones & Gilliam Angus, with Karen’s parents. In 2015, Jones & Gilliam Angus celebrated 50 years of operation by being honored with the Historic Angus Herd Award from the American Angus Association, the Pioneer Award from the Missouri Angus Association, the inaugural Pinnacle Award from the Heart of the Ozarks Angus Association and a resolution introduced by former State Sen. Mike Cunningham and adopted by the 98th General Assembly of the Missouri Senate recognizing and congratulating Karen and Roy on their accomplishment. At the time of her death, Karen and Roy had gifted more than 30 heifers to young Angus breeders.
Karen was an active member of the Missouri and Heart of the Ozarks Angus Associations, holding many offices in both, including serving as the first woman president of the Missouri Angus Association in 2004-2005. She was also very proud to be elected nine times as a Missouri delegate to the American Angus Association annual meeting.
From 1970 to 1976, Karen worked alongside Roy in the Bank of Bunker in Bunker, Missouri, and in the Dent County Bank in Salem, Missouri, as operations officer. After moving to Gainesville in 1976, Karen retired from the banking business and instead spent her time spoiling Roy and Jackie, becoming the primary caregiver of their cattle and the AI technician for their herd. She was also a substitute schoolbus driver and rural-route mail carrier. She also served as an election judge for many years, and she and Roy were honored for 25 years of service to the Ozark County Republican Committee.
She excelled at crocheting beautiful afghans, sewing, cooking and baking – especially pies – although she really preferred spending time outside taking care of her yard, garden and the cattle.
Karen was an active member of St. William’s Catholic Church in Gainesville throughout much of her life.
Friends and family will remember Karen for her great hugs, sparkling eyes and ever-present smile.
She is survived by her husband, Roy, of Springfield; daughter Jackie of St. Louis; sister Rita Fugate of Overland Park, Kansas; brother Mick Gilliam and wife Donna of Peace Valley; sister-in-law Karen Gilliam of West Plains; Karen and Roy’s “kids and grandkids,” Mark and Tina Henry and their children, Julia, Roebe and Mae Marie of Ava; and many other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Janet, who lived only four days after her birth; brothers Dennis Gilliam and John Gilliam and his wife Lu; her sister Rita’s husband, Royce Fugate; and nephew Kyle Gilliam.
A private burial was held in Howell Memorial Park Cemetery in Pomona.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Missouri Junior Angus Association Scholarship Endowment Fund or the Heart of the Ozarks Angus Breeders’ Association Scholarship Endowment Fund (online at https://www.angus.org/Foundation/GetInvolved/DonateOnline.aspx or mailed to the American Angus Foundation, 3201 Frederick Ave., St. Joseph, MO 64506-2997) or left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, West Plains, directors.