Re: ATTITUDE

From: robertjones2001@hotmail.com
Sun Jan 26 12:56:21 2003


At Wed, 9 Jan 2002, Helen Dynda wrote: >
>ATTITUDE
>
>The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud mother-in-law of my best friend, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coiffed and makeup perfectly applied - even though she
> is legally blind - moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
>
>Maurine Jones is the most lovely, gracious, dignified woman that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. While I have never aspired to attain her depth of wisdom, I do pray that I will learn from her vast experience.
>
>After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window.
>
>"I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
>
>"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room ... just wait."
>
>"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. "It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift; and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away ... just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account ... you withdraw from what you've put in .. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories."
=================== Here is more information about the Attitude story: The story about my mother, Maurine Jones, was written by Cheri Pape. It originally appeared on the front page of a weekly newspaper in Dallas, Texas called Park Cities People, November 8, 2001. Mom died August 2, 2002 with a smile on her face and love in her heart. She was a grand lady. Responding to praise about the article, Cheri says, "I am not the author, but was merely taking dictation" in explaining her joy in transcribing mother's faith and hope in life. Indeed, these are the lessons that Mother taught to me and my two brothers and one sister throughout our lives.

Cheri's email address is: cheripape@att.net

In addition, here is Maurine Jones obituary that appeared in the Dallas Morning News, on August 4, 2002

MAURINE WITT JONES received her wings on August 2, 2002. This gracious, dignified lady was born on a farm in Plano, TX, on April 27, 1910. What an example she set for anyone who knew her and those of us lucky enough to call her family. This ninety two year old petite, well poised, lady was fully dressed each morning with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though legally blind. She was an old fashion woman with a modem approach to life. She married the love of her life, Ted E. Jones, on March 20, 1930. They had 71 years together. They moved to several different cities, including Ballinger, TX, Eldorado, AR, Shreveport, LA, and Hope, AR., and in 1952 they returned to University Park. Maurine had joined Northway Christian Church as a teenager, she and Ted were married in the church, and she was thrilled to return to "family", as she would say. They joined the Pat Henry Sunday School class and made the friends who would last for over 70 years. Ted sang in the choir, and she took her place on the front row, dressed to the nines with the perfect hat for every outfit. When she retired, from Texas Bank, she devoted her time to working on the church bazaar, playing bridge with her girlfriends, traveling with Ted, and most importantly to us, indulging her family with fabulous birthday cakes and country cooking dinners. Although legally blind, a stranger would never know she was handicapped in any way. She always had a smile and her cheerful attitude lifted all who were around her. She never complained, even these last days when her heart was telling her it was time to take her place with the angels. She is survived by four children, Ted Warren Jones (Marcia), Bloomington, IN, Carolyn Jones Frazier, Denton, TX, Art Jones (Peggy), Dallas, TX, and Bob Jones, Austin, TX. Also 8 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted E. Jones, two sisters, and a grandson, Visitation will be at Sparkman/Hillcrest on Sunday evening from 6:30-8:00 PM. Memorial services will be conducted by the ministers at Northway Christian Church, including Marilyn Dickson, and lead by Dr. Doug Skinner on Monday. August 5, 2002 at 11:00 AM, Memorial gifts may be made to Pat Henry Class of Northway Christian Church, 7202 W. Northwest Hwy. Dallas, TX 75225, or a charity of your choice. Thank you also, to Art Jones, who wrote... Her inspiration has reached all over the world via the Internet. We are not sure how it first was placed on the Internet but I am proud that so may people have found strength in the message. That is how she was and even stronger in the last weeks on earth. Art Jones Gosh, what a special lady... now in heaven, no doubt about it!

--
Robert Jones

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