Leola Jones

Leola Todd Jones, age 95, passed away on May 9, 2018 in Grants Pass, Oregon following a short illness.

Leola was born February 9, 1923 in Modesto California to Boyd Henry and Fern Idona (Johnson) Todd - the fifth of ten children. She graduated from Ceres Union High School in 1940 and attended Modesto Junior College. In 1942 she married Donald D. Nicolaysen, and lived in Modesto and then Ripon, California where they raised four children and operated an egg and farming business called Nicolaysen Farms that eventually employed more than 140 people. As a mother and grandmother she was prized by her family as a woman of practical wisdom and disarming humor and will be remembered for her love of a funny story, her optimism and faith, her work ethic, and unassuming nature.

Leola loved travel, family activities like water-skiing, and organizing and writing about family history.

In 1971, Leola divorced, and continued to work as a partner in her business .She found time to travel with Bay Area friends to many countries and experienced cultures in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania - visiting more than 40 countries. While traveling, she met her second husband, Gilbert C. Jones of Seattle, and they became fast friends, marrying in 1982. With Gilbert (called “Gib” by family and friends) she lived in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, and later moved to Coupeville, Washington on Whidbey Island, where she was a member of the Penn Cove Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a volunteer at the Seattle LDS Temple. Most of all, she enjoyed a close association with Gib’s children and grandchildren, and visits on many occasions by her out-of-state children and their families.

When Gib passed away in 1997, she chose to stay in Coupeville, enjoying the beauty and quiet of Whidbey Island’s nature, including bald eagles, wild deer, driftwood beaches, a view of Camano Island and Mt. Baker. Her sister Loreata and brother-in-law Tom Todd were neighbors for a time. While recently a resident of Grants Pass, Oregon for four years, Leola enjoyed time with her granddaughter Erica (Jed) Ledesma and their family, and sister-in-law Kathleen (Richard) Haack of Applegate, and frequent visits by children and grandchildren. She was a resident of Brookdale Grants Pass, and a member of the Redwood Ward of the LDS church.

Leola is preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert C. Jones, her parents Boyd Henry and Fern Idona Todd , her brothers Uriel, Leith, and Noel - and sisters Idona, Vida, Nadine, Loreata and Elva. Also her sons-in-law, James L. Beus and Paul Ehrmann, and foster granddaughter Melissa Ann Ehrmann. She is survived by her sister Reanon, and by her children Claudia (Ron) Nepote, Jeanette (Dan) August, Donald L. (Carolyn) Nicolaysen, Margaret Beus, her foster-daughter Maxine Ehrmann and family, and three step-daughters and their families. She leaves behind eleven grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Burial will be at Sunnyside Cemetery, Coupeville Washington, with a graveside service on Friday, June 1st 2018 at 11:00am. Friends and family are welcome. Arrangements are by Hull & Hull Funeral Directors, Grants Pass OR.
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