Janet Carol Jones, daughter of Perry Egbert and Eva Gray (Greene) Pettingill, was born in Litchfield, Minnesota, on May 8, 1937. She entered into eternal rest surrounded by family in Shenandoah, Iowa, on July 8, 2025, at the age of 88 years and 2 months.
The Pettingill family resided in Litchfield, Minnesota, until Janet was eight years old. At that time, the family moved to Shenandoah, Iowa, and Janet attended school in Shenandoah until she was a junior. It was at the age of 17 that Janet married the love of her life, Darrell Duane Jones at the First Baptist Church in Shenandoah, Iowa. The couple was blessed with the birth of their first daughter, Deb in 1955, and two years later welcomed their second daughter, Linda. The family moved several times but always remained in Shenandoah.
She started working at Earl Mays in the catalog and mail order department but was soon promoted to a supervisor position. She worked in that position until her retirement after 30 years with the company. Janet was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she contributed as part of the choir, the Methodist Women, Bible Studies, and Questers S.S. group. She also served on a funeral committee, and in her earlier years enjoyed playing Bridge.
Being active and involved in her family’s lives was very important to Janet. She enjoyed the time she spent attending family events and her kids/grandkids’ sporting events. Other hobbies included cooking, reading, sewing, singing, and playing golf.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Perry and Eva Pettingill; siblings, Don (Lila) Pettingill, Betty (Lee) Macdonald; and her in-laws, Herbert and Blanche Jones. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 71 years, Darrell Jones; daughters, Deb (Dan) Finlay and Linda (Dale) Magnuson; grandchildren, Vanessa (Dave) Baldwin, Nikki (Joe) Cuva; Michelle (Brian) Blank, Krista (Sergio) Salazar, Kari Armesto; great grandchildren, Macee Lynn Blank (Damian), Wyatt Baldwin, Abby Cuva, Macey Marie Finlay, Zach Cuva, Grace Baldwin, Baylor Blank, Sam Baldwin, Logan Holycross, Brielle Blank, Sahara Magnuson Davis; great-great grandchild, Araya Shane Moore; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Shenandoah, Iowa, on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. The family will greet relatives and friends with a visitation at the church one hour prior to service from 10:00-11:00 a.m. There will be a luncheon immediately following the service, with private family burial in the afternoon. Memorials in Janet's name are being directed to the Shenandoah First United Methodist Church.
