Vanita Jones

Vanita Jones, 75, of Jackson passed away Friday, Nov. 10, 2017, at her home near Pocahontas.

She was born Aug. 17, 1942, in Cape Girardeau to William R. and Edna Bohnsack Mavers. She and Tom Jones were married Sept. 13, 1964, at Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau.

Vanita graduated from Jackson High School and began working for W.T. Grant in Cape Girardeau, later becoming the first woman manager of the company. Vanita then started her own business, Frontier Food Mart in the early 1970s, with the addition of Frontier Restaurant in 1982. She later became owner of Gordonville Grocery and Gas. Her last business venture was opening Precious Memories Bridal Shop in Jackson. Vanita enjoyed the last 24 years of coordinating the Love & Romance Bridal Show. She was a charter member of American Business Women's Association, and was instrumental in the development and starting The Miss Jackson Pageant. In addition to her own career, Vanita worked alongside her husband, Tom, for Jones Auction Service.

She was recognized as Woman of the Year from River City Business and Professional Womens Club. She was instrumental in forming the Fruitland Fire Department, and she was past president of Town Plaza Merchants Association, Jackson Merchants Association and the Jackson Rotary Club.

Vanita loved planting flowers, having coffee with her daughter, shopping with her girlfriends, attending Cape County Cowboy Church with her husband, playing with her dog, Milo, and being in the Colorado Mountains with her family.

Among all of her accomplishments, she was most proud of her family and spending time with her twin granddaughters. She will be missed greatly.

Loving survivors include her husband of 53 years, Tom Jones of Jackson; a daughter, Crystal (Gabe) Montgomery, and children, Sophia and Ella of Jackson; and two sisters, Betty (the late Wilman) Fluegge of Gordonville and Wilma (the late Gerald) Langston of Oak Ridge.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jim Matthews officiating. Burial will follow in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Southeast Hospice or Cape County Cowboy Church.

A special thank you to all of the team at Southeast Home Health and Hospice for the wonderful care they provided.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the McCombs Funeral Home website at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.