Clara Jane Blakemore Coones, 82, passed away peacefully at
her daughter’s home in Meridian, Idaho on August 28, 2014 from complications of
Multiple Myeloma. Jane was born March
13, 1932 to John Thomas Raleigh and Clara Helen (Hannah) Blakemore in Prairie
Grove, Arkansas. After high school, Jane
was a student at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas. She married James A. Coones on October 29th,
1953. Her husband was in the navy and they were stationed at Whidbey Island
Naval Air Station in Washington. After
Jim was discharged they moved to the Coones family homestead near Spotted
Horse, Wyoming where they split their time between the ranch and the University
of Wyoming. Jane graduated with a B.A.
in Elementary Education in 1959. She
taught primary grades at elementary schools in Arvada and Gillette,
Wyoming. Later she worked in banking in
Sheridan, Wyoming. She moved in 1999 to
Boise, Idaho to be closer to her children and grandchildren. Jane was preceded in death by her parents and
by brothers Frank Glen Blakemore and Robert Thomas Blakemore. She is survived by her children Wm. Blake
Coones (Jean) of Boise, Mary Ann Porter (David) of Meridian, and Joseph G.
Coones (Sharon) of Draper, Utah; seven grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff at St. Alphonsus
Hospice and the church bodies of Covenant Presbyterian Church and Cole
Community Church for their love and support during Jane’s final months. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
Covenant Presbyterian Church (please specify memorial to Jane Coones) or the
National Multiple Sclerosis Society. A
memorial service will be held on Tuesday, September 9th at 11:00
a.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Boise.
