Eleanor Fordham Jones' Obituary
Eleanor Frances Fordham Jones entered the fuller life February 24, 2019. Her earthly life began 92 years ago in December 1926 when she was born to Bertha Anna and Cecil Wallace Fordham. Eleanor’s mother, Anna, played the piano and organ for the silent movies. Her father, Cecil, test drove Model T’s for Henry Ford. Cecil eventually became an engineer with the Ford Motor Company which moved him and Anna from Ohio to Dallas where Eleanor was born and raised.Age 18 was a pivotal year for Eleanor. She attended Draughan’s Business School where as an exceptional student, she became the secretary for the school’s president. She moved with several girlfriends into a boarding house for single women owned by Mina Morehart. Mina eventually became Eleanor’s second mother when she married Eleanor’s widowed father, Cecil. Theirs was a close and loving relationship that lasted throughout both women’s lives.One Sunday that same year, Eleanor visited St Matthew’s Cathedral and met Dean Gerald Moore, a man who changed her life. Dean Moore told the young Eleanor he expected her to return the next Sunday. And she did return, for the next 74 years. St Matthew’s Cathedral became her family home.With deep blue eyes, and a creamy complexion framed by mahogany red hair, young Eleanor was often compared to Grace Kelly for her dazzling good looks. Her personality completed her beauty, with her sweet, shy demeanor concealing a sparkling wit and abundant sense of humor. (When Ronald Reagan became president with his waif-thin wife at his side, Eleanor dreamed up a bumper sticker reading: “Feed Nancy.”) Never wanting attention, she was a great listener, always saying just enough to draw people out.Eleanor was teaching Sunday School at St Matthew’s when she met the dashing George Rather Jones, a young Braniff Airlines pilot, who was picking up his niece from her class. “Marrying George Rather Jones was the best thing I did in my life” she would say. Eleanor returned from her honeymoon to become the new, loving mother of 7-year-old Cameron, George’s daughter. “I went straight from honeymooning in Havana to volunteering in the school cafeteria line,” she’d laugh.Three more children followed, George, Jr., Bob and Celia, whom she raised with patience, humor and an innate wisdom which stemmed from her natural love of children. Eleanor enjoyed 31 years with George, Sr., until his death in 1981.Throughout her life, to paraphrase St Francis, Eleanor preached the Gospel, rarely using words. She served God by loving and serving others – through her church Altar Guild, her ladies’ St Monica’s Guild, on the Vestry, at the Sunday School and finally as directress for 32 years of the Country Fair Store, St Matthew’s thrift shop.The Country Fair was the ministry dear to her heart. More than just a charity store, the Country Fair provided a community gathering place for the neighborhood families, as well as fellowship for its volunteer workers. The inexpensive purchases raised thousands of dollars for the Cathedral each year. Each week, Eleanor made sandwiches and homemade chocolate cake for the small lunch bar. She graciously served her Country Fair customers, many of whom came from lower income neighborhoods around the church, and knew them by name. She recognized the importance of how the little store retained her customers’ dignity by enabling them to purchase high quality clothing, housewares and toys and not just get hand-outs.For 67 years, Eleanor lived in a charming Dutch Colonial home on Potomac Avenue where she and George raised their family. Eleanor enjoyed close friendships with neighbors. Once with two neighbor friends, Eleanor founded “The Perfect Club” where the only requirement for membership was admitting that the founding members were all “perfect.” Needless to say, no prospective joiners were able to meet that requirement. When asked what the three charter members did at meetings, Eleanor replied straight-faced, “Why, we sit around and admire how perfect we are.”Eleanor enjoyed history, books, music and the beauty of the natural world, particularly northern New Mexico. She had a special rapport with dogs. She and George loved lakes and spent 17 years summering on Lake Hamilton outside of Hot Springs, Arkansas. A gifted artist, she also had a keen appreciation of color and design and was a very clever writer. Inheriting her father’s practical,engineering skills, she was innovative and could fix anything. “All you need is the right tool,” she’d say modestly.Late in life, she suffered memory loss. But even when she couldn’t recall the details of her children’s and grandchildren’s lives, she never forgot that she loved them. She was always able to savor life’s simple pleasures. A few years ago, upon returning from a funeral wake where there had been a large crowd, she commented, “That was enjoyable. I have always liked being around people.” She paused and then smiling broadly added, “I have enjoyed being alive.” Such pure and exquisite gratitude illustrates the nature of Eleanor Jones.Preceding Eleanor in death were her parents, Bertha Anna Fordham, Cecil Fordham, and Mina Fordham, and her beloved husband, George Rather Jones, Sr.She leaves behind her children, Cameron Jones Bostick (Steve Legate) of Santa Fe, NM, George Rather Jones, Jr. (Cindy) of Dallas, Robert H. F. Jones (Carolyn) of Dallas, Cecilia Jones Prehn (Chip) of San Antonio; ten grandchildren, Jennifer McIntosh (Aaron), George R. Jones III, Daniel Jones, William Jones, Robert Jones, Grace Jones Anderson ( Sam ), Gloria Jones, Thomas Prehn, David Prehn, Mary Katherine Prehn; and two great-grandchildren, Avery and Connor McIntosh; nieces, Litty Jones Turner, Mary Lee Jones Virden (Bob), and Anne Berding Broaddus, and many great-nieces and nephews.Eleanor will be lovingly remembered by all her family and her many friends with love and thanksgiving for a life well lived.In lieu of flowers, please send any memorial gifts to St Matthew’s Episcopal Cathedral, 5100 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX 75206.Funeral Services will be held Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Cathedral, 5100 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX 75206. A reception to follow immediately after the funeral service at St. Matthew’s. A private graveside, for family only, will be held at a later time.
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