Mary Eva (Liesmann) Jones was born April 18, 1928, in St. Louis, to Chris and Edna Liesmann and departed this life June 5, 2014, after her long wonderful journey of faith in this world with all her loved ones and friends.

Mary was born in St. Louis. The Liesmann family moved to Dixon in 1930 where Mary grew up and spent her life. She attended St. Theresa Parochial School and Dixon R-1 Schools. When Mary was eleven years old, she and brother Bill, age thirteen, received the Blessed Sacrament of Baptism December 24, 1939, at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Dixon, and both received the Holy Eucharist December 25, 1939. This was Mary's first treasure of life as she and her brother were very close.

Mary married her first and only love, Casey Jones, March 14, 1946. Two children were born to this union, one daughter, Kathy McNeil and one son, Casey Mike Jones. Mary and Casey shared a very special occasion by renewing their wedding vows at St. Theresa Catholic Church in 1971 in celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary with their children and other family members.

Mary has been with the parish family at St. Theresa since her baptism and felt blessed to be a member of St. Theresa Ladies Society until her death.

Mary has always treasured her family and many friends and has always loved children of all ages. She was very fond of Mother Nature, music, checking the stars and moon at night. She loved her town of Dixon and was always pleased with her jobs and her co-workers.

Mary received many awards for all her accomplishments during her lifetime. She enjoyed being happy and loved life in general. Some of her favorite times were praying the Stations of the Cross during Lenton Season, praying the rosary, Christmas Midnight Mass in Latin, being the gatekeeper for Dixon R-1 School ballgames, spending much time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, having coffee with her son-in-law, Mac, as he always made her coffee especially delicious and the time spent with lifelong friend, Edith Humphrey. Mary was a member of the Liesmann-Roberts American Legion Auxiliary for many years and the Dixon Cemetery Association. She enjoyed working and keeping things clean at the cemetery.

Those preceding Mary in death were her parents, Chris in 1949; Edna in 1941; brother, Bill Liesmann in 1987; husband, Casey Jones in 1975; son, Casey Mike in 2008, son-in-law, Edward McNeil in 2013; five half-sisters, Pearl Copp, Weva Bay, Elizabeth Roseman, Nell Mann and Grace Durbin; half-brother, Paul Liesmann and grandparents, Ousley and Liesmann.

Those left to mourn Mary include: daughter, Kathy McNeil; seven grandchildren, Casey Don and Ryan Jones, Becky Jones Thornburg and Patrick, Ed, Kevin and Brian McNeil; eight great-grandchildren, Roxi and John Mike Talbot, Valerie, Emily and C.J. Jones, Brandon, William and Katie McNeil; great-great-grandson, Michael Ryan; nephews; nieces; and many, many friends.

Precious memories of Mary will long be remembered in the hearts of all who were touched by her.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Mary at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 7, 2014, in the St. Theresa Catholic Church, Dixon, with Father Henry Ussher celebrating. Lector was Mary Nelson and during the Offertory Procession the Gifts were borne to the altar by Chris, Sharon and Carmen Liesmann. Donna Knapp played her guitar and sung "I Believe", "Moon River", "Here I Am Lord", "On Eagles Wings", and "Hail Mary Gentle Woman", all chosen by Mary.

Interment was in the Dixon Cemetery under the direction of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Home, Dixon. Pallbearers for Mary were Patrick McNeil, Brandon McNeil, Kevin McNeil, Brian McNeil, Raymond Carter and William Carter. Honorary pallbearers were Becky Jones Thornburg, Joe Newkirk, Jessie Carroll, Roxanna and John Mike Talbot.

Mary's request was all who wished to express their sympathy to her family by sharing with the Dixon Community Scholarship Fund or the Crohn's Disease Research Foundation.