Laila Elizabeth Wallace Jones of Victoria passed away on March 13, 2013, at the age of 102. She was born on October 12, 1910 in Cuero Texas to the late Holland West Wallace and Mamie Lewis Wallace. She attended Cuero High School, Brenau College in Georgia, and The University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority.
She married O. F. Jones Jr. in June, 1930, and they lived in Waco until 1971. She moved to Victoria in 1975. She is survived by her three children, O. F. “Dink” Jones III and wife Nanne, of Victoria, James W. Jones of Austin, Texas, and Laila Elizabeth Jones Kirkgard and husband Bill of Houston; three nephews, Holland W. Wallace III and Richard Elliott Wallace of Weslaco, and Richard Wallace of Bastrop, eleven grandchildren, Christopher Wallace Jones and wife Sandy of Liberty Hill, Texas, James Britton Jones and wife Debi of Monument, Colorado, Patrick O’Keefe Jones and wife Theresa of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Claudia Costos Nolles of Fort Worth, Beth Allen and husband Sid of Georgetown, Keith Kirkgard and wife Shelly of Austin, Holly Wilbourne and husband David of Tallahassee, Florida, James W. Jones Jr. and wife Amy of Columbus, Ohio, Erin Drury and husband Ian of Hinsdale, Illinois, Thomas Jones and wife Kirsty of London, England, and Katey Wright and husband Marshall of Austin, Texas and 24 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, O. F., Jones Jr., her parents, her two brothers, Lewis Wallace and Holland W. Wallace Jr., her beloved daughter in law, Eileen Hagan Jones, and precious great granddaughter, Meaghan Rhea Jones.
Laila, as was well said by her grandson Patrick, though only 4’11”, was a wonderful and powerful woman who was the backbone of our family. She instilled in each of us the meaning of Family, standing up for what was proper and right, and learning to take responsibility for who you are and what you do. We will never ever forget her kind words of encouragement, her soft words of love, and her forceful words of correction. She will be missed by all of us but we are thankful that she is now at peace.
A memorial service will be held 10:00 am Saturday, March 23, 2013 at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 3002 Miori Lane, Victoria. Interment will follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Rockdale, Texas. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Larry Reidel, Andy McGlauthlin, Jack Buttram, Bob Bates, Lee Allbright and her six grandsons.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Riedel for his years of caring for her, the staff of Homewood Residence, where she has resided since 2003, and particularly to Sharon Andress, Ophelia Diaz, Isabel Navarro, Patrick Neighbors, Betty Sievers, Gracie Gonzales, Denise Keller, and the many others too numerous to list, who have been there over the last few years to care for her.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis Episcopal Church, or to the donor’s choice.
Words of comfort may be shared with the Family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com
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