Doris Loraine Jones

Doris Loraine Jones, a long-time resident of Champaign, died peaceably of pneumonia in hospice care Tuesday the 1st of November at the Windsor Court. Born in 1931 in Carbondale, IL to parents Clarence Sylvester Alvey and Bernadyne Elizabeth (Murdaugh) Alvey. The young family moved to Cairo, IL at the height of The Great Depression to take care of Clarence's mother and sister. Doris excelled in academics and achieved valedictorian in high school which earned her a scholarship to Southern Illinois University Carbondale. While working part time to pay room and board, Doris joined the international club where she met Murrell Franklin Jones. The couple married in 1951 and then Doris delayed her degree to have her first son, Kimmel. In 1955 Doris achieved Phi Delta Kappa membership and graduated with honors receiving a Bachelor's degree in education minoring in special education. They welcomed their second son, Douglas, while Doris was opening the first special education program in Du Quoin, IL. Moving to Bloomington, IN to pursue advanced degrees saw Doris paving new paths in special education. Shortly before the birth of their third son, Dwight, the family settled in Champaign, IL. She stayed home for five years and continued working on her Master's degree. In 1968, Doris was hired to teach 4th grade at Carrie Busey Elementary. In 1976 she finished a MS in education which she augmented with a school administrative endorsement in 1979 from the University of Illinois. In 1980, Doris was promoted principal of Carrie Busey, where she served until her retirement in 1993. Doris loved the challenges and rewards of this unique school that combined an elementary school and the district wide special education elementary program. In 1990, Carrie Busey was nationally recognized as a School of Excellence. This honor was awarded at the White House and was personally presented by President George H.W. Bush. Doris noted life highlights including receiving a 40th anniversary gift from their sons sending the couple to Europe, globetrotting with her grandchildren across the US, Canada and Italy, participating in the civic groups AAUW & WCCU, and having a spiritual community in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign. Preceded in death by her husband Murrell, brother Donald Alvey and grandson Connor. Survived by sons and their wives, Kimmel & Mary Kirwin, Douglas & Teresa and Dwight (Dewey) grandchildren Loren (wife Sara), Adam, Sara, Casey & Matthew; three great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2pm Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign, 309 West Green Street, Urbana. If there is bad weather, the celebration will be postponed to Feb. 4. Her ashes will join Murrell at Mount Moriah Cemetary, Coffeen, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Memorial Fund at the UU Church for the purchase of a Chalice in Doris's memory. May we remember your many stories which fill our hearts.