Virginia Marnea Jones, 80

Virginia Marnea Jones, age 80, of Columbia Falls, is with the Lord. She passed away May 10, 2022, in Whitefish.

She was born Aug. 10, 1941, in Tarkio, Missouri, to the late Henry Barnhart and Evelyn Maxine (Barnett) Barnhart.

Marnea married Jay Herbert Jones, Jr. on Oct. 30, 1958, and together they had three children, Virgil in 1960, Troy in 1962, and Sheila in 1963. They resided in Coburg, Oregon, until 1971 when the family moved to Columbia Falls. After retirement Marnea and Jay moved to Plains, Montana, where they resided on the Clark Fork River for 10 years In 2010, they returned to Columbia Falls. Marnea was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her husband Jay was proud of her hospitality and considered it to be her ministry. A talented cook and baker, her family and friends will especially miss her cookies, candies, strawberry Jell-O salad, enchiladas, sweet potato balls, cabbage rolls and countless other favorites. Her hobbies included quilting, crocheting, fishing and hunting. Marnea enjoyed donating her time and energy to her church through working in the nursery, the Awana program and volunteer work.

Marnea was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Jay; her parents; her son Virgil Jones; brothers Gene and Pudge Barnhart; sister Opal Hewes; step-brother Steven Long; stepsister Rhea Tomseth; daughter-in-law Crystal Jones; and grandson Bradley Nieves.

Marnea is survived by her son Troy Jones; daughter Sheila Hollingsworth (Don); grandchildren Kristel, Jonathan (Karina), Nicholas (Veronika), Josiah (Trisha), Danielle (Derek), Jessica, Jacob, and Meghan; 10 great-grandchildren; sister Kay Roper and daughter-in-law Peggy Martin.

A memorial service will be held for Marnea on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Fellowship Alliance Church, 1025 Seventh Avenue West, Columbia Falls, MT 59912. To send online condolences, please visit www.columbiamortuary.com.