Henreida Jones Obituary (1929

Henreida Archer Jones was born May 7, 1929 in Granbury, Texas, the daughter of E.C. Archer and Lydia Monroe Archer. She did not like her name. Her parents made it up by putting together the names of E.C.'s brother, Henry, and Lydia's sister Ida, both of whom died young and tragically. In grammar school, Henreida's class had some Spanish lessons, and she learned that Enrique was Spanish for Henry. Forever after she went by Rickey, creating herself anew without the tragic baggage and showing that streak of independence and spunk that would serve her well through life. Rickey was sickly as a child and had to spend long periods of time in bed. She developed a healthy imagination and played on the squares of the quilts covering the bed, using the long strips as roads, and the small squares as houses. She imagined an entire family and their lives. Later, she read everything she could get her hands on. From her mother, she learned faith and self-sacrifice. Her mother was the superintendent of the children's Sunday School, and Rickey was baptized and entered the church when she was six or seven. She remained a Methodist throughout her life. Her parents didn't require her to do chores, but they did expect her to behave perfectly and do well in her education. They believed in education even though they were poor farmers. She said that her dad owned his land so they were better off than many, but compared to modern standards, they lived in abject poverty. She also said she didn't know any better and still enjoyed her childhood. Rickey went to college at Texas Tech University in the 1940's, when it was unusual for a girl, especially a poor girl, to go to college. She was not frightened or lonely or homesick. She was excited at all the new things that she could see and experience at college. She was in a rush to get to life and graduated college at 20. She wanted to be a famous journalist, write a great American novel, and have an all-white sophisticated apartment. She didn't do any of those things but she found other paths that she enjoyed. While at Texas Tech, she met the love of her life, Darrell Jones. One New Year's Eve, he asked her to marry him. She didn't take it seriously, but when he proposed again the next New Year's, she said yes. They married on January 6, 1950 in the living room of a funeral home because the funeral director was a justice of the peace. Rickey and Darrell were married for 63 years until his death in 2013. Rickey was a loving mother to her three children. She was firm and had high expectations, but she always let her children know they were loved. She hurt for them when they hurt, and she celebrated with them at times of joy. Rickey went to extraordinary lengths to do things that she thought would benefit her children or help them to be happy. Her children learned from her example to be kind and always to try to do the right thing. In addition to caring for her family, Rickey worked to make things better for others. She volunteered at her church, with special education classes, with Meals on Wheels, and with Metropolitan Ministries, now known as Restore Hope. Rickey was preceded in death by her husband Darrell and her brother Claiborne. She was survived by her son Scott Jones and wife Sandy Jones, her son Chris Jones and wife Virginia Jones, her daughter Stephanie Theban and husband Ted Theban, grandchildren Darrell Jones, Alicia Wharry and husband Lynden Wharry, Lydia Theban Drane and husband Joshua Drane, and Elizabeth Theban, and great grandchildren, Peyton, Connor, and Bailey Wharry. The family suggests donations to Emergency Infant Services or Restore Hope in lieu of flowers.