Mary Jones Obituary

Mary Lou Jones

July 3, 1936 - June 28, 2025

Mary Lou Jones, affectionately known as Mom, Granny, Gigi, Muth, Lou, and Madge, joined our Heavenly Father on June 28, 2025 - just days shy of her 89th birthday.

Mary Lou graduated from East High School in Auburn, New York; Sacred Heart Academy in Rochester, New York; and finally, Immaculata College in Washington, D.C., where she met her lifelong love and dance partner, Walter Stanley (Stan) Jones, Sr., who was stationed there while serving in the Army. Their first home together was in Roanoke, Virginia, where they began their legacy with the birth of their first child, Cindy. Shortly afterward, they settled in Auburn, New York, where Stan joined the family business, Red Star Express Lines. Together, they filled their hearts and home with five more children: Virginia (Ginny), Sue, Amy, Walter Jr. (Casey), and Stacie.

Mary Lou was a proud, loving, and fiercely protective mother of six, and a beloved friend to many. She spent much of her life cheering on Stan as he coached little league and watching her children thrive in sports and life. Her happiest place was around her huge round kitchen table, surrounded by family and friends, eating her famous meatballs, sharing stories, and filling the room with laughter. She had a gift for smoothing over the chaos that came with being married to a legendary prankster. She was known for her daily ritual of Oreos with her morning coffee and a good Sudoku puzzle. One of her favorite pastimes was making casino donations, one spin at a time.

Mary Lou also loved puzzling, which often turned into sweet one-on-one chats with her children. And being a grandmother and great-grandmother brought her profound joy. Her heart overflowed as she watched generations grow and bond. She loved each and every one of them deeply.

Mary Lou cherished her Auburn friends, with whom she shared a lifetime of laughter and fun-lifeguarding on the docks, boat rides, barbecues and clambakes at Owasco Lake, dancing and dinners (she and Stan were magic on the dance floor), snowmobile parties, and holiday celebrations. She especially enjoyed playing cards with the girls, doubles tennis, chats with the Kourtyard Kids, and lively evenings at Curley's. No matter where life took her, Auburn always remained her true home.

In retirement, Mary Lou and Stan moved to Destin, Florida, where they pursued hobby businesses and formed another circle of treasured friendships. Later, they returned to Roanoke to be near Stan's family and special friends Bev and Gaye. After Stan's passing, Mary Lou relocated to Florida to enjoy living near her family full time. As time moved forward, her children had the privilege of encircling her with grace and comfort during her brief time under hospice care.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her beloved and hilarious husband, Walter Stanley Jones, Sr.; parents, John and Irene Bisgrove; and brother, Jack Bisgrove. She is survived by her brother Jerry Bisgrove, sister Betty Jean Kinsella, and sister-in-law Marsha Bisgrove; six children, Cindy Jager (Koos), Ginny Mallette (Tenser), Sue Mallette (Knox), Amy Balzer (Pete), Casey Jones (Jami), and Stacie Gissendanner (Chris); 17 beautiful grandchildren,13 sweet great-grandchildren, and so many precious nieces and nephews.

The family appreciates your prayers and wishes to thank the earthly angels at Gentiva Hospice for their care and compassion. A Celebration of Life is being planned for early September in Auburn, NY.