Karen M.

Rotherham

Melissa "Missy" Jean Jones, 63, of O'Neill, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022 at Plainview Manor in Plainview.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 22, 2022 at Faith Community Church in O'Neill. Pastor Paul Harder will officiate.

Memorials may be made to Faith Community Church in O'Neill in Missy's name.  

Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill is in charge of the arrangements.

Melissa was born on Oct. 24, 1958 to Fred and Patricia (Whitcomb) Jones. At the time of her birth, and for many years after, she held the record for the smallest baby born at St. Anthony's, coming in at 3 lbs.! Fred always told everyone that when she was born, her hand was a little bigger than his thumbnail! 

She attended O'Neill High School and went on to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where she majored in physical therapy. 

She was the first in her family to come to faith in Christ and was influential in leading her dad and mom into a relationship with Christ. 

Missy had a love for horses and barrel racing, she raced one time at the National Western Rodeo, and she and Fred started to make plans to breed barrel racing horses, train them and then sell them. However she found it difficult to carry this on after her dad passed away. She had a hard time parting with the horses that she and Fred had bought.  

Missy's other great love was Nebraska football and she cheered the Huskers on year after year.

After moving back to O'Neill, she worked at Avera St. Anthony's hospital and Pinnacle Bank and then stayed at home to take care of her mom. 

In 2015, Missy was diagnosed with stage four cancer. She bravely endured radiation and chemo for the next seven years.  

She was a high energy person and had a great love for her family and her extended family. 

Missy is survived by her uncle Richard Whitcomb of Arvada CO; three cousins Russ (Shirley) Whitcomb of Arvada, CO and their children Aaron and Richard,  Wade (Shelly) Jones and their family and Rev. Jeff (Staci) Jones; friends and family Matthew Mann, Bob and Charlene Franklin family, Reed family, Raymond Jones family, Montie Lou Smith, Reynolds, Welshes and Osbornes; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Pat Jones and one sister Jody Jones.