Omer William Jones, Sr.

O. W. Jones Sr., head of the Jackson County Abstract Title and Guarantee Company, 220 S. Eleventh St., died suddenly in his office yesterday at the close of the business day.

The company secretary, Miss Fannie Elise Tolson, head of the office staff was with him at the time, between 5:30 and 6 p. m. They had just completed a government abstract on marginal lands. It had been an arduous task. He had referred to it as a "bear cat".

Suddenly Mr. Jones slumped over at his desk. An ambulance and a doctor were called. A physician living near the office premises responded, and administered a heart stimulant. The stricken man died shortly.

His death was attributed largely to overwork. According to his office help he had worked day and night, Sundays and holidays. He had put rest secondary to the needs of his clients, however arduous his chore or however provoking the impatient client might be in some instances in eagerness to have an abstract completed. O. W. Jones, according to those nearest to him in his business, never was known to lose his composure. With Miss Tolson on the office staff were Mrs. Ross Ozburn and Miss Geraldine Cleland.

Prior to becoming an abstractor, Jones had been in insurance. He bought the John R. Kane abstracting business some time after Kane's death, and several years after attorney Robert P. Martin had withdrawn from the original firm of Kade and Martin, the oldest abstracting firm in this part of the state.

A Christian man of good will, whose competence was widely known, Mr. Jones had enjoyed a lucrative business and had amassed the most complete property record outside of the court house. His guidance had been enjoyed by many with vested property who had met with difficulties. His generosity was not strained. He was devoted to his home, albeit the stress of his business denied him many hours there. He lived at 2111 Clark St.

Funeral services will be held Sunday at 3:00 p. m. at the Centenary Methodist Church, the Rev. J. T. Bryant officiating. The Centenary Church is to be used due to a temporary lack of heat in the First Methodist Church, of which he was a member.

Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Memorial cemetery.

The body will remain at the Crawshaw Funeral home until noon Sunday and then be removed to the church for services.

Jones was born in 1893 in Jacksonville. Ill., and had lived in Murphysboro about 29 years.

He was married in 1914 to Lora Johnson, who survives with three children, Mrs. Kenneth Wright of Indianapolis, Ind., Mrs. Harry Wilson of Marion and Attorney Omer W. Jones, Jr., of Murphysboro; the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Jones of Wayne City, Ill., and four sisters Mrs. Tom Dilliner and Mrs. Lyle Hawkins, both of Jacksonville, Mrs. Clarence Brown of Dunkerton, Iowa, and Mrs. Herman Hawkins of Mt. Vernon.

Mr. Jones was a member of the Lions club and the AF&AM 498, Murphysboro Chapter and Murphysboro Council.

Source: Murphysboro Daily Independent, Sat., Oct. 23, 1948