Marjorie Jones

A memorial service for Marjorie Jones, 90, Tyler, will be held on Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 3:00 PM at Marvin United Methodist Church with Rev. Gerry Giles officiating. Private interment will precede the service under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mrs. Jones passed away, September 21, 2011 in Tyler. She was born September 24, 1920 in Marshall to the late Clyde and Olene Westmoreland. Marjorie had a great love for music. She began singing in the Marshall Junior High School choir and sang in choirs all her life. She majored in music at Stephen F. Austin University, where she graduated. Soon after Marjorie and her husband, Reagan, moved to Tyler in 1948, they joined Marvin United Methodist Church and she joined the choir, where she sang for over 60 years. As a member of Marvin United Methodist, Marjorie served as past secretary of the administrative board, past president of the Crusaders Sunday School Class, treasurer of the Chancel Choir, and member of the Family Ministries Council and Grownups Retirees Group. She began her banking career as the secretary to the president of Peoples National Bank/Interfirst Bank. She attended and graduated from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. During her career at Peoples Bank, she organized and led the Women’s Special Services Division, which focused on the financial challenges facing recently widowed or divorced women. She subsequently assisted banks across the nation in setting up similar divisions. She was active in the American Institute of Banking and the East Texas Group of the National Association of Bank Women, where she served on the Executive Committee and as chairman of the national education and training committee. After 36 years of service she retired as Vice President in 1985. Mrs. Jones spent much of her life helping others and giving back to her community. She was the first woman to serve as campaign chairman of the United Way of Greater Tyler. She was active in Goodwill and PATH, where she served as treasurer and a member of the executive committee, and the Smith County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Mrs. Jones served as a member of the State Board of Directors for the Smith County Easter Seals Group. In 1981, she received the Outstanding Texas Easter Seal Volunteer Award. One of the early members of the Pilot Club of Tyler, Mrs. Jones served as a president and lieutenant governor. Other community areas of service included director and treasurer of the Tyler Community Concerts, Camp Fire Board, Student Players of Tyler, and the East Texas Group of the Dallas Summer Musicals Guild. She served as past president of the Tyler Woman’s Forum and a member of the Texas Rose Festival Association. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her husband, Reagan Jones; her son, Barry Jones; and two sisters, Jean Graff and Mary Clyde Barron. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Robert “Bob” and Lori Jones of Dallas; grandson Reagan Jones; granddaughter, Natalie Jones; and a host of nieces and nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Crusaders Sunday School Class at Marvin United Methodist Church. Memorials in honor of Marjorie Jones may be made to The Choir Fund of Marvin United Methodist Church, 300 W. Erwin, Tyler, Texas 75702.

Marjorie Jones

September 24, 1920 - September 21, 2011