Relatives from six states attend Jones-Crock rite

Twenty-five family members (and five dogs) gathered at the homes of Bryan Jones and Fran Jones on Memorial Day weekend to attend a Celebration of Life for Helen Regis Jones-Crock, who died March 17 at her home in Sunnyvale, Calif., at the age of 101.

Relatives from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, California and New York were in attendance. Following mass and the blessing for her ashes on Sunday morning in LaCrosse, a brunch prepared by Chef Mario was hosted at Bryan Jones’ home. Memories of their sister-in-law, mother, aunt, great-aunt and grandmother were shared. Games were played, visiting and singing around the campfire were enjoyed by young and old, after which several family members went to the Colfax cemetery where Helen Regis’s ashes were placed at her headstone.

Di Brink and Joan Myrick had a “girls over-night” stay with their cousin Camille Patterson Friday in Spokane. They returned home Saturday.

Fran Jones, accompanied by her youngest son, Warren of Hauser, Idaho, spent five days in Burlington, Vt., where they attended the graduation of her granddaughter, Meggie Perron, from the University of Vermont. Also attending were Meggie’s father, Lino Perron; her great-aunt, Letizia Pession; her mother, Regena Jones with Mario Maero, all from Aosta Valley, Italy, and brother Damien Perron from Whitefish, Mont.

While there, Fran and Warren visited Bruce and Johanna Jones across Lake Champlain at Port Douglas, N.Y., to where Bruce and Hanna had recently moved. Fran, Gena and Mario returned to the farm in Dusty May 20.

Blake and Carmen Heaton have returned from two weeks visiting and attending the graduations of two of their grandsons. They first went to Phoenix for the high school graduation of Justus Heaton, son of Erica and Christopher Heaton. Justus will be going into the Navy in the fall. Also attending the graduation were Justin, Katy, Tru and Range Heaton. Blake and Carmen next flew to Islamorada, Fla., for the high school graduation of Valente, son of Jaime and Heathermarie Reynoso-Heaton. Valente had composed and sang “Seniors Song” at the graduation ceremony. He was accompanied by a friend on the guitar. The song recapped the experiences they had during their four years of high school. The Heatons also attended the awards banquets for basketball and LaCrosse for grandsons Valente and Jeronimo. Among the awards they received, Valente was awarded “Athlete of the Year” for Coral Shores High School. Such proud moments for the Heatons. Justin and Katy and the twins also attended Valente’s graduation. While in Florida, Tru and Range got to experience being in the water with dolphins, something they had looked forward to for quite some time.