HELENA — Beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Barbara Louise Jones, "Grandma Barb," of Helena died Friday at her home.

      Barb was born to George and Virginia Tippett on Feb. 23, 1939, in Butte.   Her mother died in 1942 from polio.   She attended Emerson Grade School, Butte High School and Montana State University in Missoula, where she received a degree in secondary education.   Barb returned to Butte and taught Spanish at Butte High School from 1961 to 1965 and from 1966 to 1967.

      Barb married Vernon E. Jones on April 18, 1965, in Butte.   After the birth of their second child, Barb retired from teaching to care for her family, which was her true passion in life.

      Barb and her family moved from Butte to Missoula in 1969, where she was very involved with her children's activities, including Parent Teacher Association, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Sentinel High School Band Parents.   She took a job as the hot lunch hostess at Russell Elementary School in the late 1970s so she could work close to her children.   Barb and her family moved in 1988 from Missoula to Helena, where she worked as an attendance clerk at Helena High School until 1998.

      Barb was preceded in death by her parents and beloved grandson Will.

      She is survived by her husband, Vern;   sons and daughters-in-law, Vern and Kathleen Jones, Helena, Gary and Lisa Jones, Butte;   daughter and son-in-law, Sherry and Tim Van Blaricom, Camby, Ore.;   grandchildren, Veronica and Virginia Jones, Rebecca and Jessica Jones and Shawn Van Blaricom.

      A private family funeral service will be held at Retz Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday.   Cremation will follow the services and placement of her cremated remains will be in Butte at a later date.

      In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Shodair Children's Hospital, PO Box 5539, Helena, MT 59604-5539.