Elizabeth 'Ann' Jones, 83

Elizabeth "Ann" Jones left this world on Nov. 10, 2007, exactly 40 years to the day that she arrived in Sandpoint with her family.

The Jones family invites their community and friends to join them for remembrance events: public viewing at Coffelt's Funeral Home on Friday evening, Nov. 16, 6-8 p.m.; private internment at Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery, Saturday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m.; and a remembrance service at the Coffelt Chapel, Nov. 17, 2 p.m. with a reception to follow at the Elks Golf Club of Sandpoint beginning at 3 p.m.

Ann was the wife of Bob "C.R." Jones, who preceded her in death by six years. She succumbed quickly to complications from injuries sustained on Thursday evening at her care facility. Her sons were with her on Saturday when she passed away at Bonner General Hospital.

Ann was born Jan. 18, 1924, the second of three children to Hiram Beach and Melvina Liana (LaPointe) Carpenter in Brooklyn, New York, on Jan. 18, 1924. Her mother's heritage was French Canadian, and her father came from Hartford, Ill. "Bette," as she was known in her early years, lived in Flushing and Scarsdale, near New York City, where her father worked as a corporate lawyer. He later became vice president and president of the American Sugar Refining Co. and was elected mayor of Scarsdale.

During World War II, Ann attended college at her father's alma mater, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor; was a Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority member; worked on the school newspaper; and graduated in 1945 with a bachelor of arts degree. She returned to New York City to work for 2 1/2 years for a new corporation, IBM, as a punch-card technician. She left New York to attend graduate school in Boulder, Colo., and subsequently earned her M.A. degree in counseling from the University of Colorado in 1951.

Her spirit of independence led her to choose a life in the West. She worked in Albuquer-que, N.M., and Phoenix, Ariz., and then accepted a position teaching high school English there in 1952.

While attending a social club dance, she met and fell in love with Robert "C.R." Jones of Twin Falls, Idaho, who was working in a family orchard delivery business in Phoenix. The couple was married on June 4, 1953, in Phoenix and honeymooned at the Grand Canyon.

The newlyweds settled in the farming community of Murtaugh in southern Idaho and farmed with a family friend for two years. With a crop failure and a young family to support, C.R. found a position with the Idaho State Department of Employment, and the family moved to Twin Falls. Ann bore four boys in the space of three years and taught one year of English and American government at Twin Falls High School.

At this time she contracted multiple sclerosis, a disease that she battled for the next 51 years. Her young family built a house and moved to Rupert, Idaho, when C.R. was promoted to manager of the Rupert employment office in 1960. Ann returned to teaching and counseling while in Rupert at Minidoka High School; ran for school board trustee; and was a PTA chairman and Cub Scout den mother. She enjoyed the recreational opportunities of rural southern Idaho: pheasant hunting, camping, family picnics in the mountains, and golf. She had a strong desire to educate and inspire her children with travel and all aspects of culture.

The family relocated to northern Idaho in 1967 when C.R. was promoted from the Burley office to manage the state employment offices in Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry. Ann did substitute teaching and volunteer work in Sandpoint until her physical disabilities resulted in her being wheelchair bound. She was cared for by her family and devoted husband at home until C.R.'s death in 2001 when her care was entrusted to the staff at Valley Vista Care Center.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents; her younger brother Robert (Bobby) Carpenter of Birmingham, Mich.; and her sister Louise (Lou) also of Birmingham.

Ann is survived by her four sons, Tom and his wife Karen of Sagle, David and his wife Marianne of Roseburg, Ore., Doug and partner Jim Healey of Sandpoint and Matt and his wife Jody Hamilton of Spokane. She is also survived by granddaughters Shanna Saulsberry of Kirkland, Wash., and Hilary Jones and Lindsay Jones of Aurora, Colo,; one great-grandson and great-granddaughter; and nephews and nieces in Idaho, Michigan, Arizona, Vermont and California.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Inland Northwest Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, offices located at 818 East Sharp Avenue, Spokane, WA 99202 (509) 482-2022.