Stella Elaine (Woodward) Jones was born on December 3, 1945, in Arnold, Nebraska, to Exie B. and Alice M. (Hutchens) Woodward. She grew up on her family’s farm and ranch a few miles east of Arnold, where she spent her childhood helping her father with the livestock and assisting her mother with household chores.
Elaine attended Upper Powell Canyon Grade School and later graduated from Arnold High School. From an early age, she attended the Arnold Baptist Church and made a commitment to her faith, accepting Jesus Christ as her savior before her teenage years.
Elaine cherished time with her close-knit family, especially with her many Woodward relatives and her beloved Aunt Pearl Andre. Family visits often took her to Gothenburg to see her sister, Barbara Ehlers, and family, as well as to Wyoming to connect with other relatives.
After high school, Elaine began working at Watson’s Grocery in Arnold, where she dedicated more than four years of service. In 1967, her life changed when she met Lee Jones, who sold her a new car. After several years, Lee gathered the courage to ask her to marry him, and they spent the next 52 wonderful years together, sharing a deep and enduring love.
Elaine and Lee spent 39 years in Broken Bow before moving to Lincoln to be closer to their daughter Avril, son-in-law Todd, and grandson Jadon. In Lincoln, they became part of the Grace Community Evangelical Church, where they found a welcoming and loving community.
Elaine will be dearly missed by her daughter Avril, son-in-law Todd, grandson Jadon, and the many friends and family members whose lives she touched with her kindness, joy, and unwavering faith.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, September 27, 2024 at Grace Community Evangelical Church, 6843 South St, Lincoln. The graveside service will be at 11:00 am Saturday at Waldheim Cemetery, rural Arnold, Nebraska. bmlfh.com
