Aline

Jones

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IN LOVING MEMORY

Aline Jones

Jul 21 1914 - Aug 16 2011

Aline Jones, 97, of McKinney died August 16, 2011 at Homestead Nursing Home after having suffered declining health for several years. She was born on July 21, 1914, to T.A. (Bud) Craft, Jr. and Myrtle Bassham Craft of the Squeezepenny community near Melissa. She attended Melissa public schools and was a high school cheerleader. Her grandparents were some of the original settlers of the Squeezepenny community before the Civil War. Her grandfather, Thomas Alexander Craft, Sr. owned and operated the grist mill and cotton gin and her grandfather, Joseph Bassham, owned and operated the general store. Squeezepenny disappeared from the map many years ago and was reinstated on the map a decade ago by Collin County Commissioner Joe Jaynes. From the Craft family farm, the limestone was quarried for the Historic McKinney Courthouse on the downtown square and the Old McKinney Jail as well as some of the other buildings in downtown McKinney including The Opera House, which is now Rick’s Chophouse. On January 10, 1932, Aline married Shaffer Jones of Allen. They were married 74 years at the time of Shaffer’s death in 2006. Beginning their marriage on Shaffer’s family home place located where Valliance Bank now stands, the two of them eventually acquired adjoining property and built their homes there—the last home was built in 1952. They lived on that property their total married life. Today their old farm house still stands, and a portion of the property still remains in the family. Always a partner in their farming operation, Aline was never afraid of hard work. When they first married, Aline helped Shaffer in the fields, drove trucks and tractors, assisted with the cotton and wheat harvests, and attended to their many animals on the farm. As she grew older well into her 70s, Aline continued to help on the farm although not to the degree as when she was young. Together they prospered and farmed over 1000 acres of land. In the 1940s, they created Jones Grain Company which they owned and operated for several years. Becoming a Christian in her youth, Aline was baptized in the First Baptist Church of Melissa. After their marriage, she and Shaffer attended First Baptist Church of Allen and Mt. Olive Baptist Church and later joined North Baptist Church of McKinney, of which she was a member until her death. She was active in North Baptist Church until her later years having served as President of her Sunday School Class several times and was very involved in other departmental activities. Aline was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Lilly Craft Gerron, Opal Craft Crouch, Geneva Craft Hendricks, and Orene Craft Pitts; brothers Tom and Raymond Craft, and several nieces and nephews. She is survived by many loving nieces and nephews and their offspring for three generations. The memorial service for Aline will be held on Sunday, August 21, at 2:00 p.m. in the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow chapel in Allen with burial to follow in Melissa Cemetery. Dr. Danny Buster will officiate. Pallbearers are Doug Graves, Clay Craft, Danny Craft, David Craft, Jason Castle, and Rick McMenamy. Honorary pallbearers are Raymond Craft, Jr., Robert J. Craft, Ed Craft, Charles Beckelman, Charles McMenamy, and Ray Corbin. Visitation will be held Saturday evening, August 20, for family and friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow. Aline will be remembered for her outgoing personality, vivacity, and tough-mindedness in the face of any obstacle. Her optimism, strong moral character, and firm faith in God granted her a long life on this earth. Now she has joined Shaffer with God in Eternity. Their tombstone is engraved as follows: “Together Forever.”
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