Maria Jones

Maria Jones, age 70, of Madison, died Sunday, May 21 at Avera Hospital with her loving family at her side. Memorial services will be at 3 PM on Thursday, June 8 th at Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Online register book is at www.rustandweilandfuneral.com. Arrangements are entrusted with Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to:  Cancer Survivors, 514 NW 5th St., Madison, SD 57042.

Maria Elena Herrera was born in Rapid City, SD, to Ellis Lee Herrera and Jeneta “Jay” Carlson. She was raised in Sioux Falls with her siblings attending Lowell Elementary and Edison Jr. High. She was a graduate of Washington Senior High School (1971). After graduation, she worked in clerical positions and raised her daughter, Jodi. For the last 14 years, she worked at First Line Funding, where her hard work and dedication earned her the respect and admiration of her colleagues. She felt at home and thoroughly enjoyed her job.

In 1994, she married the love of her life, Larry Jones. Their love built a beautiful home in
Madison where they enjoyed entertaining family and friends. They enjoyed planting flowers and gardening together every spring and canning their infamous pickles, tomato juice, and green beans in the late summer.

Being a member of the Madison Country Club brought great joy to Maria. She began golfing when she met Larry and she couldn’t get enough. They loved to travel, whether it was to Mexico or to a campground in their trailer. It did not matter where Maria and Larry would go as long as they were together.

Maria’s most treasured role was being “Grandma Maria.” She cared for each of her
grandchildren with great love and greeted them with warmth, great big hugs, songs, and guitar playing. She loved to cook and no one could pass up her homemade biscuits and gravy.

Maria was known for her beautiful smile, kind heart, and fierce love for her family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Rest in peace, Maria. You will forever be in our hearts.

Left to cherish the memory of Maria’s life are husband Larry Jones; children Scott Jones, Dan (Laura) Jones and Jodi (Brandon) Maxey; sister Robin (Rick) Dudley; Grandchildren Drew (Sara) Jones, Brittany (John) Waldman, Jordan Rymerson, Marli (Seth) Sayler, Annie (Mike) Tschetter, Raye (Tah’di) Fierro-Rodriguez, Mackenzie Maxey, Aliya Jones, Lucy Jones, Vanden Jones; seven great-grandchildren; and a host of extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Ellis Lee, Vernon Ray, and Norman ‘Terry’; and granddaughter Maggie Mae Jones.