OXFORD – Jessie Stone Jones Howell passed away peacefully at Wingate at Ulster, Monday, Oct. 20, 2008.
Jessie was born in Oxford, Oct. 2, 1916, to Grace E. and C. Lynn Stone. She graduated from Oxford Central School in 1934, attended Potsdam Normal School and graduated from Cortland Normal School in January 1938. She taught in a one-room school house in the Deposit Central School District from 1938 - 1941. She married Robert E. Jones on April 12, 1941 from whom she was divorced in 1948. On Nov. 26, 1966, she married Robert W. Howell II, who passed away on Sept. 11, 1972.
Jessie was the Executive Director of the Chenango County TB & Health Association from 1944 - 1963. In August of 1963, she became the Executive Director of the Dutchess County TB & Health Association which became the NYS Lung Association of Dutchess & Columbia Counties. She retired in June 1982. By 1984, she was tired of staying home and went to work for the Mid-Hudson Library System and stayed with them until 1999. She belonged to Trinity Methodist Church and was active in many of their organizations.
Jessie was a “people person” who loved music. As a teenager, she played the harp in concerts around Chenango County. During her years in Oxford, she was an active participant in the village affairs and played the piano for community sings on Friday nights in the village park as well as playing in a dance band on Saturday nights. She was the choir director for the Congregational Church in Oxford for many years.
She is survived by her daughter, Roberta (BobbieAnne Jones) Gordon, son-in-law James F. Gordon, beloved grandson Steven J. Gordon and his wife AnneMichelle, her niece Nancy Stone Partridge, and a cousin, John Cornue and his wife Tish.
Calling hours will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie. Funeral service will follow visitation at noon. Burial will be at a later date at the Riverview Cemetery, Oxford.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Jessie’s name to your favorite charity.