Novalee “Grammer” Jones, age 97, of Benton, reunited with numerous family members, as she was called home, Monday August 28, 2023. As a family, we can only imagine the joy & happiness she felt seeing her husband, daughter, son, grandson, son-in-laws, parents and oh so many beloved cousins that passed before her. What a reunion that had to be!
Novalee was born June 3, 1926, to her sweet parents Orran & Reba (Heitt) Darnall. She grew up in Marshall County, Kentucky with her parents & one brother, Eugene “Beagle” Darnall.
As a young teenager, she met the man that brought her love & happiness, Len T. “Bub” Jones. Novalee and Bub were married September 4, 1943, in Charleston, Missouri. Shortly thereafter, they started their own sweet family. A daughter, Louella “Louie” Gene, was born in November of 1945. A son, Larry Don, was born in February of 1947. A daughter, Lavene “Beanie” Gwen, was born in April of 1952. A daughter, Lenette “Teet”, was born in March of 1955. They raised their family in a quaint little house in the South Marshall area. Novalee found joy in being a housewife & mother while Bub was a car dealer.
Her children grew up, married, and started having grandchildren for her to spoil. Louie & Bill Bussey married having her first grandchild, Tony Bussey, in 1966. Larry & Carolyn Jones married having two more grandchildren, Michelle Jones Moreland in 1967 and Brian Jones in 1972. Beanie & Danny Hopkins married having two grandchildren, Dana Hopkins Ibendahl in 1974 & Derek Hopkins in 1978. Teet & Junior Bell married having two more grandchildren, Martie Bell in 1972 & Misti Bell in 1978.
She was “Grammer” to the seven luckiest grandkids around. Every Saturday night you could find the grandkids spending the night with their Grammer, oh, the memories made in that little house! She loved them all and was a proud grandmother, to say the least.
Novalee had the strength, kindness, and grace like no other. Life was rough on her several times, but we never saw her break. In 1981, at age 55, Bub passed away, she kept her heart only for him until she passed. In 1990, at age 44, her daughter, Louie, passed away. In 2007, at age 57, her son, Larry, passed away. In 2014, the baby of the grandchildren, Derek, age 35, passed away.
Her hobbies included coon hunting with Bub through the years, sewing clothes for her girls, card nights, crossword puzzles, and crocheting, making sure the entire family had a supply of “Grammer Christmas Stockings”. She was a member of a unique, small church named South Marshall Church of Christ, where the members became her second family. Many Sunday mornings her sweet gentle voice could be heard leading the hymns in that miraculous little church.
Novalee became “Grammer” to everyone! She loved that title! She was a great grandmother to 14; Nikki Bussey, Will Bussey, Zack Dunigan, Shelbi Nelson, Hayden Dunigan, Sadie Nelson, Sydney Nelson, Julian Adams, Jadyn Adams, Sawyer Freeman, Anniston Hopkins, Dacey Hopkins, Lawson Arnold, and Lendyn Arnold. She also had two great-great grandchildren, Emme Williams and Bryn Dunigan.
Novalee is survived by daughter, Beanie (Danny) Hopkins, daughter, Teet Bell, daughter-in-law, Dianne Stice.
Upon Novalee’s request, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she spent many hours helping take care of her great granddaughter.
Grammer will be missed by many, but left behind love and memories that will never leave us. Our hearts are broken, but we know so many rejoiced as she entered the gates of Heaven.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 1, 2023, at Collier Funeral Home with Keith Culp and Lawrence Arnold officiating.
Burial will follow at Haymes Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at Collier Funeral Home.