Bessie Serina Jones, 84, died from COPD on Saturday, April 14, 2007, at Heritage Place in Kalispell. She was born June 5, 1922, in Greycliff to Jonas Sharpe and Lucy (Davis) Sharpe. She attended school in Big Timber and Hot Springs, and graduated from the eighth grade at Mountain View Grade School.

She married Phillip Jones on June 14, 1941. Bessie, Phillip and family moved to the Smith Valley community in 1945, where she lived until the past five years. She lived with her daughter and son until she moved to Heritage Place.

Bessie was a mother first, a waitress at the Husky Truck Stop, cook's helper at the Lutheran Home, a caregiver for Jeane Jahnke Rest Home, and a maid at the Blue and White Motel until her retirement.

She was a life member of Ladies Auxiliary Veterans of World War I, 34-year member of Ladies Auxiliary of VFW, and a 59-year member of Smith Valley Grange. She had been a 4-H leader for the Smith Valley Booster 4-H Club and member of the Flathead Home Demonstration Club in the 1950s.

Bessie enjoyed taking care of her garden, and cows and cats when she was able. She made many blue-ribbon afghans that she gave away as graduation, birthday and wedding presents.

She was preceded in death by her father, Jonas Sharpe; mother, Lucy Cartwright; stepfather, Walter Cartwright; husband, Phillip Jones; and brother Ernest Sharpe.

Bessie is survived by her sisters, Ellen Nutting and Mary MacDonald, both of Kalispell, and Bette Mathes of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; brother, Robert Cartwright, of Kalispell; sisters-in-law, Emma Shero, Mary Bauer and Evy Jones, and brother-in-law, Abraham Jones, all of Kalispell; son, Roger Jones, and special friend, Karen Lee, and daughter, Phyllis Carr, and husband, Melvin, who was like another son to her, all of Kalispell; granddaughters, Donna Carr, Melissa Senner and husband, Brent; great-grandchildren, Keyanna Carr, Kassandra, Jared and Quentin Senner; and many nephews and nieces.

She always enjoyed taking care of small children. Her great-grandchildren always put a sparkle in her eye and a smile on her face.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today, April 17, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, with Pastor Nathan Bemis officiating. Burial will be afterward at Glacier Memorial Gardens, followed by a luncheon at the Smith Valley Grange Hall.