Gene Velva Jones

GENE VELVA JONES renamed Jean in the first grade by principle. Gene was not appropriate or allowed for a young girl in the year 1932. Jean was born Oct 11, 1927 in Oakland CA., on 109th street. Moved to San Mateo, lived at 122 North Claremont Street. Jean went to San Mateo High school, graduated in 1945. Jean commuted and worked at the Emporium (like..Weinstocks) on 3rd & Market St. in SF. CA. Jean moved to her parents home, Hans Nikolai & Verda Leon Olsen and her brother Lyle Irving Olsen in Chico, CA. in 1947. Hans opened Olsen's Grocery and butcher shop on Normal & 8th Street in Chico. Later he moved to 19th and Chestnut to a new store, he and James Jones built in 1952. Hans bought property at 1107 Elmer Street in Chico, built a garage (furnished it) where they all lived while building the house. When the home was complete, Jean moved in with her parents and got a job at the Anglo Bank. Chico Bowl on Normal st. In 1949 was operated by the Jones family was her meeting place for her future husband, James Lester Jones. Bowling was good for her and her father, he was her bowling partner, he bowled several 300 games and series of 700 plus. Jean was also a good bowler and she bowled a 279 game for a 681 series at the El Rancho Bowl in West Sac in 1965. Jim was born in Nelson Ca. In 1921. Served in the Navy from 1941 to 1945 and was Honorably Discharged. Jim moved in to live with his mother (Ida Mae Jones) and his father (William Henry Jones) on Oleander Street , Chico. Jones' family owned and operated a rice-grain dryer, and a bagging piece of equipment mounted on a semi trailer flatbed. Jean bagged and sewed the grain products into gunny sacks. Jean and Jim got married in 1949 and lived in a 26 foot long trailer next to her parents home. Jean and Jim moved to a trailer park in Sac. Ca. on Arden way and Del Paso Blvd. In 1950 they moved to house on Jefferson Blvd. & Davis Road West Sac. Ca. for a year. On 12/19/1951 James William Jones born in Sac. Ca. at Mercy Hospital. We then moved to Rock Rose in West Sac. Then moved back to Chico Ca. in 1952 to help Jim's father, hurt in a car accident. He was ejected out and hit his head, never recovered and died a year later. Jean and family moved to Hemlock st. Chico Ca. Michael David Jones was born 11/30/1955. In 1959, the family then moved to 1900 Maryland Ave West Sac Ca. for 14 years. She was close to Jim's family in West Sac. Ca., sister Elsie and Betty. She made many friends at Schools, VFW and Neighbors. Jean volunteered to be a Cub Scout leader, involved with school activities and little league baseball. Jean started a new job and worked for Gottham beer distribution General Brewing, then Markstein in 1967, retired in 1994. Ma Jones bought a home on Julian Drive, Broderick Ca. In March 1973. West Sac. After retirement Ma Jones started to help at the VFW in West Sac. She COMMANDED the kitchen & made alot of money for the VFW!!!!! Ma Jones still says THANKS to all of the VOLUNTERS!!!!! Her WORST dish was her burnt chicken pot pie with no gravy served to her sons. Son Jim had to learn to cook, her BEST was a her 10 Star breakfast buffets. Retired from the VFW during the covid crisis, 2020. Family gatherings have been held at Nash's restaurant in Chico CA. every three months. At 97, Ma Jones lived at home by herself. Drove to appointments, shopping and lunches. On March18 she fell at home and broke her hip, she was on the phone with her son, Jim. Jim called a good friend in West Sac. to go check on her about the fall and they called for an ambulance, surgery that night for a broken hip and recovery facility to follow. Now staying with her son, Jim and wife Nancy in Lincoln ca. Good friends helped donate hospital beds and other needs. Ma Jones is improving daily. We know she is doing better at the moment, ordering us around daily and remembers everything. Jean turns 98 in October 2025. In the last week of November I think she had a stroke. One morning after waking, her mobility had stopped, speech slured, sleeping more and memory loss. It progressed enough that we sent her to Sutter Hospital for evaluation and incare Hospice home was needed. Jean passed away at 3.46am on 12/20/2025 Jim's fond memory is when at 10 years old, he cut up Ma's plumbers plunger (spanking) handle into short pieces and gave them to her, to his surprise she had another handle for his bottom surprise!!! Ma Jones says that was the last time she used it. Life has been good to her and her family!!!!!

Gene Velva Jones

October 11, 1927 - December 20, 2025