Dorothy Jones

Dorothy L.  Jones, 84, of Searcy peacefully left this world on March 2, 2022 in her home in the presence of her beloved daughter Laura. Mrs. Jones was born in Vinity, Arkansas on July 3, 1937 to the late Biniom and Lois Hicks Smith and was the ninth of eleven children in a loving, Christian farm family. She graduated from Harding College in Searcy, and began her teaching career in Bradford, Arkansas. She retired in 1990 after teaching in the Searcy School District for 31 years. After her retirement, she worked at Wal-Mart in Searcy for several years. For the rest of her days, she spent most of her time helping others in her family and her community.  She also volunteered 14 plus years at a local nursing home doing crafts with residents with supplies and tools provided by her. Dorothy helped those who needed extra attention doing everything from driving them around to taking them out to eat at least once a week. She regularly wrote encouraging notes to others and visited the sick and lonely. When her health made it impossible to go out, she concentrated on getting to know the people who came into her home to care for her and became their friend and encourager. She always made the best of whatever circumstance she found herself in. Dorothy loved birds and flowers but most of all she loved the Lord.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Bob (“Papa”) Jones; her brothers Shirley Smith, Winford (Lyvone) Smith, and Weldon Smith; by her sisters Mabel (Glenn) Barnett, Allene Pennington, Melva (H.E.) Summers, and Nelda (Marion) Myrick; by her sister-in-law Tresa Smith and her brother-in-law Thomas Brister.

She is survived by her daughter Laura Jones; her brothers J.C. Smith and Dale (Carroll) Smith; her sister Juanez Brister; her sisters-in-law Pearl Smith and Phyllis Smith; and her brother-in-law Ray Pennington; and many nieces, nephews and friends including longtime friend and prayer partner Brenda Jenkins. She is loved, and memories of her will be cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Special thanks to Wanda Rudd, Tammi Conway, Tiffany Ashing, Lila Watson and the late Shannon Pollzzie who provided exceptional care for my Mom for the last several years.

In lieu of flowers, we request donations in Dorothy’s memory to Imagine and Believe, P.O. Box 2042, Searcy, AR 72145, an organization that supports and facilitates fostering and adoption, a cause near and dear to her heart.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 4^th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. Services will be held Saturday, March 5^th at 2:00 pm at the Northside Church of Christ in Beebe with Dennis McCarty officiating. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Searcy, Arkansas. Arrangements by Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home.  www.smithfamilycares.com