Elaine Grace Jones

Elaine Grace Jones, 59, of Lawrence, Kansas passed away at home on Thursday, October 27, 2022, after valiantly and faithfully fighting a 15-year battle with Primary Progressive Aphasia.

Elaine was born on October 21, 1963, in Houston, TX, the second child of Benjamin Franklin and Beverly June (Carter) Jones.

Elaine’s childhood was blessed by the love of her family and a personal relationship with Jesus, whom she trusted as her Lord and Savior at an early age. Her youthful enjoyment of outdoor adventures, traveling near and far, Legos, Star Wars, C.S. Lewis, all types of music, games and puzzles stayed with her to her last days. Graduating from Memorial High School in 1982, Elaine completed a bachelor’s degree in Math from the University of Oklahoma in 1986.

While at the University of Oklahoma, Elaine was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority, and a passionate follower of all OU sports (Boomer Sooner!).  Most importantly, she was active in the Baptist Student Union, growing in her faith and solidifying her deep knowledge of God’s Word.  She faithfully mentored other young women to pursue Jesus with their whole hearts.  She traveled both nationally and internationally with teams of OU students to share their faith in Jesus.  It was during one of these trips that she gained a life-long love for Romania.

After OU, Elaine taught one year of high school math in Everman, TX. She then moved to Lawrence, KS, and earned a PhD in Finance from the University of Kansas.  In Lawrence, Elaine joined Grace EPC and made friends who became family for eternity. She also became an avid Jayhawk fan with season tickets for a number of sports including football and basketball (Rock Chalk Jayhawk!).  With the conclusion of her graduate studies, Elaine joined the faculty of the University of Central Missouri.  She loved being a professor at UCM, especially when she got to teach some of the International Finance courses. She was with the University for 25 years, until illness forced her to retire.

Elaine was an extremely intelligent, wise, and generous soul.  She was a dear friend and a loving aunt.  She knew how to throw an amazing party with fireworks, or lobster from Maine, or a new TV to better watch the Super Bowl.  She loved to share experiences whether it was a trip to NYC for nieces and nephews or tickets to Les Miserable for some of the youth group kids.  She was passionate about studying her Bible and faithful to women’s bible study.  She taught Sunday School for decades; first for 5 ^th and 6 ^th grade and then middle school girls. She loved to travel and really loved looking for moose.

Elaine is survived by her father, Dr. Benjamin Franklin Jones, Houston, TX; friend and caregiver, Liz Zayat, Lawrence, KS, sister, Marianna (Jerry) Nanson, Colleyville, TX, brother, David (Liliya) Jones, Overland Park, KS; nieces and nephews, Nathan (Beth) Nanson, Sealy, TX, Kara (Wade) Barber, Rogers, AR, Lauren Nanson, Los Angeles, CA, Caroline Nanson, Brooklyn, NY, David Nanson, Austin, TX, Andrei, Thomas, and Phillip Jones, Overland Park, KS; and great-nieces and nephews, Ethan, Quinlan, Rhys, Evie (Kara & Wade) and Hannah (Nathan & Beth).  Elaine was preceded in death by her mother, Beverly.

A memorial service will take place on November 25, at 2:00pm at Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 3312 Calvin Dr., Lawrence, KS, 66049.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Elaine’s name to the Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church (Lawrence, KS) or Camp Peniel (Marble Falls, TX) or OU Baptist Collegiate Ministry (Norman, OK) and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

For more information or to post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com.