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Submitted: 10/15/13 • Approved: 9/30/16 • Last Updated: 10/3/16 • R935811-G935811-S3
September 15, 1934 - July 15, 2005
*Obituary
Jean Bonds Jennings died July 15, 2005, at her home in Mountain View.
She was born September15, 1934, at Edgemont. She gave her life to Jesus at the age of 15 at Old Lexington and was an active member of Mountain View First Baptist Church at the time of her death. She married Tommy Simmons at the age of 16. Their four children were born before they moved, in 1962, to Mountain View to begin a business and a life filled with music and community service.
A self-taught musician Jean traveled across the country sharing her musical talent and serving as an ambassador for Mountain View and Stone County. During her 30 years at the Dulcimer Shoppe, Jean promoted dulcimer music by teaching workshops and giving private instruction. She later expressed her creativity at The Cornerstone where she not only set up beautiful displays but also welcomed visitors and cultivated many precious friendships.
In 1985 Jean married Leon Jennings and they began 20 years of gracious hospitality together. Even as they traveled, made baskets, played music, and entertained in their home, they were constant examples of kindness and generosity for everyone to follow. In their home everyone was treated as a friend.
In the early 1980s Jean organized the Leatherwoods music group and was the leader and driving force for the group for over 30 years. This group entertained throughout the country, always promoting the local area. In 2000, Jean was named the Mountain View Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizen. She has served on the Chamber Board and was publicity chairman for several years. She was a member of the Committee of One Hundred support group for the Ozark Folk Center and served as crafts and music chairman for the committee. She received the committee's Bessie Moore Award for outstanding Service in 2001, an honor given on only three other occasions. She also received the Henry Award at the Arkansas Governor's Conference on Tourism.
Survivors include her husband, Leon Jennings; and her six children, son Danny Simmons and his wife Martha and daughters Virginia Lee, Renee story and husband Jerry, Pam Kirby, Dian York and husband Wayne, and Lib Harrison and husband Jerry Joe, and a very special family member Bill Zellers; grandchildren Michael and Myette Story, Tom and Amy Thomas, Kelly Simmons, Alison Lee, Russell Simmons, Eric Lee, Katie and Heath Holland, Sarah Kirby, Austin Kirby, Heather and Bill Mainord, Joe and Wendy Harrison, Michael and Heather Harrison, Darby and Amy York, Shae and Ryan McCormick, and Cody York; 17 great-grandchildren; one brother Don Bonds and his wife Joyce and sister Patsy Batchelor and husband, Pat and Sue Widener and husband Gerald.
Her parents Andrew and Erma Bonds; her son-in-law Billy Lee; and sister-in-law, Betty Bonds, preceded her in death.
The funeral service was conducted Monday, July 18, at the Ozark Folk Center large auditorium, with Mark Pointer, Ray Brown, Thurlo Lee and Pat Batchelor officiating. Burial was in Flatwoods Cemetery.
Pallbearers were her grandsons.
Contributed on 10/15/13 by sandhollow
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Record #: 935811