Ruth Mary “Peggy” Jones, 91, departed this life December 9, 2022, in Hill City, Kansas. Ruth was born May 25, 1931, to Joseph and Ruth (Hood) Malin in Denver, Colorado. At a young age, she was nicknamed Peggy by her father who liked that name better than Ruth Mary. And the nickname stuck. When she was a teenager the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Little did she know that she would be living next door to the boy who became the love of her life, Maurice “Joe” Jones. While attending high school in Phoenix, Peggy was in the Women’s Rifle Club and earned very high honors in marksmanship. She graduated in 1947.
Peggy
and Joe were united in marriage February 21, 1948. After marrying they
soon moved to Kansas where they took over the family farm south of
Bogue. To this union four children were born: Richard Duane, Michael
Jay, Deborah Ann, and Sandra Lea.
For over 15 years Peggy worked at the Graham County Treasurer’s office in Hill City. After Joe’s death in 1985 Peggy moved to California that summer to be with her mother and sister. While living there she worked for the Southern Automobile Company of California until November of 1990. Then she decided to return to Kansas to be closer to her children and grandchildren. The summer of 1991 Peggy went to work at the Hill City grocery store, which she loved dearly, especially being around people, laughing and joking with them as she checked out their groceries. She was known to everyone as “Granny”
because people would often ask “how many grandkids?” Peggy worked at the grocery store until her health started failing.
In her spare time Peggy enjoyed a variety of hobbies. She loved gardening, painting, drawing, and fishing. Her life was full of music. She was an accomplished pianist and organist, and an amazing accordion player. Sometimes Joe took out his guitar to play a few tunes and Peggy joined in, usually with her accordion. Peggy’s most favorite activity of all was spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. When they stopped by, she danced with them, teaching them the two-step. She also wanted to teach them how to play the piano. And her favorite Saturday night pastime was dancing at the Cowboy Junction.
Peggy was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Ruth Malin, her husband Joe, two sons Richard and Mike, a brother Joseph “Mac” Malin, and four sisters: Margie Woods, Mildred Malin, Helen Hardy and Betty Hardy.
Survivors left to remember and cherish her memory include daughters Deborah Budig (fiancé Roy Cooper) and Sandra Patton, both of Hill City; daughters-in-law Denise Jones and Ethel Jones; 11 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
Peggy was full of life ~ surrounded by those who loved her dearly. She will be missed, but the memories she left us will live in our hearts.
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