November 9, 1937 – March 27, 2019

Linda May Jones passed away on March 27, 2019. She was born in El Dorado Kansas, November 9, 1937, to Edith Heck Carlson and Forrest Edward Carlson. She had an older brother, Edward, also known as Buster. Linda grew up in Kansas, graduating high school from Harper High.She attended Kansas University, where she met her first husband, and with whom she had three children: Chris Dale Conard, Carin Dene’ Lockhart, and Curtis Dean Conard (all still alive and well). She later married Verl Jones and the two were happily wed for over 35 years. Verl passed away October 22, 2018. She now has a total of eight grandchildren, one ‘adopted’ grandchild, and three great grandchildren. She also has an assortment of granddogs, which if you knew Linda, is also key to who she was.

Linda was very active, eager to volunteer and become involved in her community. She is the president emeritus of the Gilpin County Historical society, and her love of Colorado history also memorialized in her over 1,400 newspaper articles (Weekly Register-Call and the Gambler), her three books, and in the minds of the hundreds of tourists she took out on excursions. She loved her church, St. James Methodist, and was an active member. She belonged to and was active in the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), the Peak to Peak Rotary Club, and various other Gilpin historical theater and community groups.

Beyond the above list of datum is the really important stuff.  Linda was an avid dog lover, deeply devoted to her furry kids. She adored Colorado, moving there shortly after her son Chris was born. She loved to be outdoors, hiking or snowshoeing in her beloved mountains, accompanied by her furry kids and her hiking buddies. She loved columbine flowers and hummingbirds. She was a great correspondent, always letter-writing and staying in touch with her life-long friends. She loved an adventure and took kids and grandkids to museums, theater productions, zip-lining and historical teas. She was a fierce tennis and softball player. She was sharp, witty and able to remember a mind-boggling amount of information (she belonged to Mensa). She always named her cars, the latest being Scarlett O’Fairburn, named after the Fairburn Mountain where her house was located. She was warm and caring, her circle of family and friends included people of all ages. She touched our hearts with her intelligence, wit, and caring spirit. She is loved and will be deeply missed.

A celebration of Linda’s life will be held at Saint James Methodist Church, 123 Eureka St, Central City, Saturday, April 13, at 11:00 a.m. If you would like to remember Linda, donations to either the Humane Society or Gilpin Historical Society in her name would be appreciated.