Ruth Ann Urban Jones of Spearman, Tx was born October 3, 1924 and died December 24, 2020, following a positive Covid 19 diagnosis. Private family graveside service will be 11:00 A.M., Monday, December 28, 2020 at Holt Cemetery with Rev. Byron Potter officiating. Arrangements by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman. Services will be broadcast live on Boxwell Brothers Facebook page for those who wish to watch. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, we will be practicing social distancing. Preceding her in death was her husband, Marvin Lester Jones. Survivors include her children, Terry Nathan Jones, Marvin Wiston Jones and Charlotte Jan Jones Neal, her grandchildren Andrew Jason Neal, Shari Leigh Neal Pritts, Erin Courtney Jones and Cullom Brantley Jones, and great-grandchild Ozzy Van Pritts.

While a mere 95 years of age, she penned her own obituary and apparently thought it should be used at this time. So here it is with only minor editing and occasional commentary, footnoted. As she wished, she gets the last word.

"I was born Oct. 3, 1024. 2 The only thing different about my birth is that I was born in a hospital.

This was in the time of home births with midwife and relatives attending. Mother 3 never explained why she chose a hospital birth—maybe because it cost more and she wanted people to know they could afford it. 4

We lived in a modern home just outside Enid's city limits. We moved to Texas in 1929 into a house without running water or electricity.  Mother did her best but it was primitive.

We built a new house a few years later and the first thing Daddy 5 did was run water from the windmill to the house so we wouldn't have to carry water. It was a temporary measure but it seemed a luxury at the time.

I attended McMillen, a country school for 8 years and then transferred to Perryton for my high school years. We had only 11 grades at the time. I graduated salutatorian of our class.

I entered college at Phillips in Enid, Ok. When I was 16, the folks wanted me to graduate from a Texas school so I transferred to B aylor when I started my junior year.

It was there I met Marvin. We were both journalism majors and we worked on the school paper together. Marvin wanted to get married immediately but I wasn't ready. As it turned out by the time I knew him a year, we had been married five months of it.

It was a good marriage as we both enjoyed writing, researching, and exploring our territory. We had three children and enjoyed doing activities with them. Those activities that I missed in a country school.

Marvin was a long time Baptist. 6 I had been reared a Methodist simply because there wasn't a Quaker church in our area. When I went to Phillips, I joined the church on a student membership. So, it was no problem for me to join the Baptist Church.

We both worked in the Church as teachers, Deacon, and musician . I played the piano or organ for 35 years. I retired myself and got a  sermon dedicated to me along the line of "you don't retire yourself, you wait for the LORD TO GUIDE YOU." I IGNORED THE SERMON. 7

Marvin and I were married almost 65 years when he died of a heart attack. It was quite sudden and a shock for all of us. I never aspired to be 100!

I have enjoyed my children and grandchildren. And fortunately, have been in good health until recently. 95 years is a good long life and I certainly never, ever wished to be a hundred. I thank you for coming and celebrating my death. I appreciate it."

The family suggests memorials to the Marvin L. and Ruth Ann Urban Jones Endowed Academic Scholarship Fund, Baylor University Advancement, One Bear Place #97050, Waco, Texas 76798-7050, or to the charity of your choice.

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2.Probably not true. See footnote 1. However, the grandchildren frequently wondered if she was a transcendental light being.
3.Almeda Coppock Urban
4.Probably true, but possibly transference.
5.Harvey Benjamin Urban Actually "Winston," but that's a different story about how journalism majors do proofreading.

6.Bolded in the original, perhaps for emphasis.
7.Undoubtedly true.