Velma M. Jones, 88, of Keokuk, IA, died Wednesday September 26, 2012 at Keokuk Area Hospital in Keokuk, IA. She was born on July 21, 1924 in Keokuk, IA, the daughter of Earl and Arrilda Sweet Miller. On June 22, 1941, Velma was united in marriage to George E. Jones in Kahoka, MO. He preceded her in death on April 30, 1983. She was a faithful member of the New Testament Christian Church in Keokuk, IA. Velma loved gardening and tending to the beautiful flowers in her yard. She enjoyed watching TV, and never wanted to miss an episode of "The View", "Days of our Lives" and "The Young and The Restless". She also enjoyed doing word search and crossword puzzles. Velma was a people person and could strike up a conversation with anyone, even a stranger. She had a loving heart and had devoted her life to caring for her family. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Arlene Jones of Keokuk, three nieces, Jennifer McDermott of Florida, Melodie Vradenburg and her husband Pat of Keokuk, Lisa Englebrecht of Keokuk, several great nieces and nephews and two sisters-in-law, Evalee Rowlette and her husband Richard and Marilyn Lile and her husband Everette. Velma was a loving surrogate grandmother to Allen and Shari Harrington of Cisco, IL and a surrogate great-grandmother to Danaile Torango, Shelby, Allen and Cody Harrington She was also preceded in death by her son, Edward Roland Jones, her parents, a brother, Roland R. Miller and a niece, Gretchen Rowlette. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, September 30, 2012 at the Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk, IA with Brother Bill Hauser officiating. A graveside service was held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 1, 2012 in the Oakland Cemetery in Keokuk . Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the National Kidney Foundation.