The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Longtime Sisters resident Nancy Ann Jones fell asleep in death on Monday, July 17, at the age of 88.

Born August 24, 1934, in Toledo, Ohio, she was raised in a large, blended family that included two sisters and a brother. Nancy moved here to her beloved town of Sisters in 1999. In January, Nancy moved to Bend, staying at the Regency West Care Home. She loved and appreciated all the staff and people who took care of her there.

In 1969, Nancy, with her son David, packed up her car and drove cross-country from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Dundee, Oregon to be closer to her brother, Leroy "Jack" Lehsten. While living in Newberg, Oregon, one of Jehovah's Witnesses knocked on Nancy's door; thus began her lifelong love for Bible truth. On July 9, 1972, she was baptized at a public convention and served her God with loyal integrity until her death. Nancy had a big, caring heart. She was hospitable and welcomed countless guests. Ever the Anglophile, she adored tea parties and hosted many elegant soirées for her friends and family. She deeply loved and appreciated all her worldwide spiritual family and friends across the globe, but she had a special place in her heart for those she met with here at her local Kingdom Hall in Sisters.

All who knew her will treasure their memories of her loving generosity, her wit, her laugh, her smile, her occasional bout of orneriness, and her hugs most of all. She held many titles, Mother, Sister, Friend, and her personal favorite, Grammy. Recently she told her eldest granddaughter with unshakable confidence, "I will wake up in the paradise and I want you all to be there." She would hope any who want to know more about her confidence in the Bible's promise of enjoying life on a paradise earth to visit JW.org, a local Kingdom Hall, or visit one of our carts you may see around town.

She is survived by her son, David Abbajay, daughter-in-law Maryann Abbajay, brother Jack Lehsten, sister-in-law Marianne Lehsten, grandson David Lane (her Peanut) Abbajay, granddaughter-in-law Larissa Abbajay, granddaughter Dacia (her Dacia-Dawn) Lee, grandson-in-law Jason Lee, grandson Walter (her Bubba) Abbajay, granddaughter Madison (her Maddie Girl) Abbajay, and great-grandchildren Corbin Lee and Clover Lee. She is preceded in death by her father, Leroy Lehsten Sr., her stepmother, Helen E. Gunka Lehsten, her husband, Russell L. Jones, her mother, Ruth Ramberg, and her sisters, Karen Lehsten Guth and Shirley Gunka Sodd.

There will be a memorial at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 29.

Nancy's memory will be held dear by all those whose lives she touched.