Mildred "Millie" Evelyn Jones

Mildred (Millie) Jones

Mildred Evelyn Yancy was born on June 10th, 1923, the daughter of Luther Sylvester Yancy and Zella Mae (Evans) Yancy. She passed away on November 21st, 2015, at the Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman, Nebraska, at the age of ninety-two years and five months.

“Millie”, as she was known to family and friends, was born at home on her parents’ woodland farm which was located near the Tennessee River between Smithland and Grand Rivers, Kentucky in Livingston County. She had two sisters and three brothers, and always talked of gathering nuts and firewood in the woods near their home. The 1930’s were hard times for many, including the Yancy family; but Millie had numerous stories of good times with the Yancy and Evans cousins in Kentucky. Family was special to her no matter the distance and sometimes long separations. She always kept in touch with her Kentucky family and Cousin Millie was special to them as they were to her.

Millie attended the Jones country school near her parents’ home through 8th grade. The family moved to Barlow, KY, when she started high school. Halfway through her freshman year the family moved to Glendale, Arizona, in hopes of improving her brother Gibb’s (Gilbert) health. Millie graduated from Glendale Union High School in May of 1942.

Millie and her mother worked in the vegetable and flower fields when they first moved to Arizona. Upon graduation she started working behind the soda fountain at a local drug store. It was here that she met an Army civilian instructor pilot from nearby Thunderbird Field, Vinton Jones from Champion, Nebraska. After a brief romance, they eloped on December 25th, 1942. They would be married for just over 63 years when Vinton passed away in January of 2006. To this union three children were born: a son, Ronald Vinton, was born in 1944 in Glendale, Arizona; a son, Stanley Arden, in 1947 in Phillipsburg, Kansas; and a daughter, Jana Kay in 1951 in Benkelman, Nebraska.

Millie was a true homemaker, mother, and terrific cook. Her frugal up-bringing helped her cope with her early married years when Vinton was in the service, flying for Trans Continental Airlines, and starting a flying business. From those beginning years in Arizona to the Jones farm SW of Champion to Bonner Springs and Phillipsburg, Kansas, to Benkelman, Nebraska, to Greenville, Mississippi during the Korean War, and finally back to Benkelman where they would start an aerial spraying business and raise their family. Wherever they went Millie set up housekeeping and would soon have friends at her kitchen table.

After her children were all in school, she started working outside of the home. One of her first jobs was in the kitchen of the Hester Home in Benkelman. For a number of years she worked in retail clothing stores in Benkelman. She always enjoyed this work and the modeling she did when the stores had local fashion showings.

Her favorite fraternal organization was Eastern Star Holly Chapter of which she served as Worthy Matron and the P.E.O. Chapter A.K.

Mildred Yancy attended the Baptist Church in Kentucky and was baptized in the Cumberland River at a young age. She became a member of the United Methodist Church in Benkelman and continued this affiliation the rest of her life wherever she lived.

When Vinton retired from aviation, they made their home on the Jones ranch southwest of Champion until health reasons forced them to retire to McCook and they started traveling in a motorhome. They began wintering in Arizona and finally moved there permanently for a number of years. Millie enjoyed these years being near her Mom, sister, brother and numerous other family members. In the early 1990’s they moved back to Nebraska and made their home in North Platte. Millie always had a circle of friends no matter where she lived. After Vinton’s death, she moved into Premier Estates Assisted Living apartments where she continued to enjoy her church, P.E.O. and numerous friends. On September 19, 2013, she moved to the Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman for extra care and to be closer to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She passed into God’s hands at the Hester Home with family at her side.

She was preceded in death by husband, Vinton; a son, Ronald; her parents; brother, Cecil Yancy and Gilbert Yancy; sisters, Wilma Yancy and Clara (Yancy) Kersey; brother-in-law, Harvey Kersey.

Survivors Include:
Son: Stan Jones and wife, Phyllis, of Benkelman, NE.
Daughter: Jana Mintling and husband, Riley (RJ), of Wauneta, NE.
6 Grandchildren: Shawn Jones (Julie) of Benkelman; Stacy (Jones) Duvel (Mardell) of Max; Shanna (Jones) Timmons of Highlands Ranch, CO; Travis Jones (Devon) of Erie, CO; Ryan Mintling (Lisa) of Imperial, NE; and Rosalyn Sheldon (Scott) of Kearney, NE.
12 Great-Grandchildren: Grant, Morgan, and Emily Jones; Cade and Colby Duvel; Charlie Timmons; Piper Jones; Rylie and Brandon Mintling; Dylan Weber, Ava and Trace Sheldon.
Brother: Luther Yancy Jr. of Glendale, AZ
Special Nieces and Nephews, including Berneice Fanning of Wauneta, NE.

Many adjectives have been used to remember Millie, including kind, loving, classy, amazing, and funny, always a sense of humor, great friend. To her family she was a special lady who will be deeply missed.

Funeral Services for Mildred (Millie) Jones will be held Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 25th, 2015, 2:00 P.M. (MT) at the United Methodist Church of Benkelman, with Pastor Doug Hjelmstad officiating. Interment will follow at the Benkelman Cemetery, Benkelman, NE.

Visitation will be held Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 24th, 2015, 2:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. (MT) at the United Methodist Church of Benkelman.

A memorial has been established in Mildred’s memory.

Online condolences can be left at liewerfuneralhome.com

BENKELMAN MEMORIAL CHAPEL ENTRUSTED WITH ARRANGEMENTS