Loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister Raejean Jones passed away peacefully on May 11, 2024, at the age of 74. She enjoyed traveling, camping, spending time with family and spoiling her four grandchildren. A phenomenal cook and baker, she loved trying new recipes and hosting large family dinners.
She was born on August 23, 1949, to Vernon and Eleanor (Melohn) Paulson in Jefferson, Iowa. She grew up on the family farm outside of Grand Junction with her siblings Darlowe, Douglas, Roxalyn, and Thomas Paulson.
She graduated from East Greene Community School in 1967. As a talented athlete, she excelled at softball, basketball, and track. She went on to Fort Dodge and attended Iowa Central Community College, where she discovered her love of volleyball and traveled with the club team to play, even after graduation. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in teaching in 1972 from the University of Northern Iowa. She began her teaching career at Manning High School in Manning, Iowa, where she taught physical education while also coaching volleyball and cheerleading. In Manning, she met the love of her life and best friend, Gary Jones. They married on June 29, 1974. Together they had 2 children: Jason and Jessica.
She later earned her Special Education Certificate from the Graduate College at Iowa State University in 1986. She went on to teach at Carlisle High School as a Special Education teacher from 1986 to 2010.
After retirement in 2010, Raejean focused on enjoying life and spending time with her family. An avid reader, she often read a book a day. She helped care for her young grandchildren, hosted weekly family dinners, and led the planning of the Paulson Family Reunions. She is survived by her husband of nearly 50 years, Gary, her children, Jason, and Jessica, and four grandchildren. Her staunch opinions and zest for life will be fiercely missed by her surviving family and friends, but her legacy of love and commitment to those she cared for will live on.
A celebration of life will be planned for later this summer.
Details to follow.
The Celebration of Life for Raejean Jones will be in held in Ankeny on Saturday, August 3, 2024.
https://www.brooksfuneralcare.com/obituaries
