Melissa June Jones (57) of Newton

Melissa June Jones, age 57, of Newton, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly at 1:00 AM – Friday, January 19, 2024, at her home.

A service of remembrance will be held at 6:00 PM – Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois.  The burial will be in the Jewett Cemetery in Jewett, Illinois.  Visitation will be held 2 hours (4:00-6:00 PM) prior to the service.  In loving memory of Melissa, memorials may be made to the family.  The obituary can be viewed, and condolences left by clicking here.

Melissa June was born on May 17, 1966, in Effingham County, Illinois, the daughter of Richard and Sandra (Eckel) Poe.

Melissa graduated from Dieterich High School, with the class of 1984.  She met Wallace Fleming while living in Florida in 1988. From that relationship, she welcomed her daughter Amanda into the world in 1990, taking on the title of mother.  She was a single mother and obtained her degree in nursing graduating from Lakeland College, in 1994.  On August 21, 1999, she married Harry Edward “Ed” Shafer, adding his children to her life as a mother. Ed passed away on January 16, 2008.  She married David “Dave” Jones on October 19, 2013, adding his children to her heart.  Dave was her best friend and the love of her life, giving her the best 10 years of marriage together.

She was always a caregiver, a trait that she shared throughout her life, both with her family and as her career.  She was a Registered Nurse for over 30 years, currently working for Helia Healthcare in Olney, Illinois. 

Melissa had many hobbies, she loved to craft.  Always trying something new and gifting those items to her family and friends.  Painting went along with her crafting, pottery, canvases, or concrete if she could paint it, she would.  Melissa was a very independent woman and once drove to Virginia on a motorcycle alone.  She had a lifelong passion for camping, she loved sharing this with her family. 

She spent every moment she could with her husband, children, and grandchildren.  Many memories were made in her backyard swimming pool.  She enjoyed traveling with Dave, together they attended many country music concerts.  During the summer she would often be found working around the house and yard with her flowers.  Melissa loved sharing her own love of Disney with her children and grandchildren. Every year she would decorate her tree with hundreds of Disney ornaments, those will now be treasured by her family. 

Melissa is survived by:

Husband- Dave Jones of Newton, Illinois

Children- Amanda Poe of Effingham, Illinois; John (Beth) Shafer of Effingham, Illinois; Jennie (Everett) Fear of Assumption, Illinois; Ashley Carter of Toledo, Illinois; Tianna Jones of Greenup, Illinois; and Jeremiah (Kim) Jones of Bellevue, Nebraska

Mother- Sandra Tipsword of Summerfield, Florida

Father- Richard Poe of Shelbyville, Illinois

Siblings – Theron Poe of St. Louis, Missouri; Tracy Gathe of Shelbyville, Illinois; and Julie Poe of Shumway, Illinois.

19 Grandchildren - Hallie, Sydney, Kaylee, Kayla, Rylan, Landen, Alayna, Destiny, Wesson, Jaxen, Lexie, Nixen, Payton, Baya, Noah, Cameron, Summer, Evelyn and Alice

1 Great Grandchild – Re’ya Sunshine