Leeila “Lee” Louise Jones

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Wednesday, 05 December 2012 12:40

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Leeila “Lee” Louise Jones, 78, passed away peacefully on Nov. 11, 2012, at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle.
A celebration of life was held Nov. 21 at Mountain View Manor in Petersburg.
Lee was born in Pueblo, Colo.,  Oct. 24, 1934, to Alda and Farrell Bennett. After the family moved to Southeast Alaska, she attended high school in Wrangell then graduated from Petersburg High School in 1952.      
Lee married Trygve Thorsen on June 20, 1954, in Petersburg On Oct. 12, 1991, she married Tom Jones in Juneau. They moved to Sitka in 1994, moved to Juneau in 2000 then returned to Sitka in 2002 to stay.
Lee possessed a strong work ethic and had a long and varied career which included many years working at the original “Parr’s Bakery” in Petersburg. She couldn’t stay idle for long and was employed by Ben Franklin in Sitka, in the fabric department, for some eight years.
She was an avid reader and enjoyed sewing. As a young mother she made many of her own clothes and her daughters always had handmade dresses for everyday or special occasions, from Easter to prom.
While in Sitka she became known for her “Sackeye Salmon,” made of various fabric designs and textures. Shaped as salmon, they were used to store plastic grocery bags for reuse. Some of her grandchildren used them to store socks. She was very proud of the Sackeye Salmon designs she made.
Lee had a wonderful sense of humor and was always willing to lend a helping hand or just listen when friends or family needed to talk. She was immensely proud of her children and the lives they lived. 
She is survived by the father of her children Trygve Thorsen of Petersburg, and husband Tom Jones of Sitka; children, Linnea Ziemke of Petersrburg, Wendy Thorsen-Ritter of Petersburg, Melissa Thorsen-Broschat of Sitka, and Derek Thorsen of Petersburg.
She also is survived by her grandchildren are Jennifer Hansen, Bob Olsen Jr., Heather Olsen, Rhea Espeseth, Jenna Durst, Alexandra Broschat, Andrew Broschat, Kayley Thorsen, Justin Thorsen and Trina Swain; seven great-grandchildren;  numerous nieces and nephews; a sister, Lanore (Bill) Rodenberg, of southern California; and brother Lyle (Carol) Bennett of Petersburg.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Alda Bennett McEwen; father Farrell Bennett; and sister Lolita (Rusty) Sheldon.
Lee was a loving mother, sister and wife. She will be missed greatly.

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