HOISINGTON — Nona Jo Jamison, lovingly known to most as “Mamaw,” departed her loving family to be with her Lord on November 14, 2020.
Nona Jo was born on January 29, 1937 at her parents’ home in rural Hoisington, Kansas to the parents of Ray and Helen McCaffree Smith and older brother, Lawrence R. Smith. At the age of four, she started attending school in a one room schoolhouse. As she grew older, she learned the strength and importance of family, community, and work ethic from her parents Ray and Helen. Her father Ray dedicated years of service to Hoisington by starting the Kansas Brick and Tile Company and promoting community and State. Nona Jo learned the gift of teaching, guiding, and nurturing a family from her blessed mother, Helen. Nona Jo’s strong and dedicated faith to her Lord, Jesus Christ, came from the religious influences of her mother and grandparents. Nona Jo loved her church and was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Hoisington.
Nona Jo loved to help her father on the farm, especially taking care of her horses and her dog. She spent many hours on horseback in the spirit of her hero, Roy Rogers, enjoying the outdoors. She loved nature’s beauty. Nona Jo developed her “while you’re resting” hard work ethic by helping her dad herd sheep, milk cows, haul hay, and tend gardens and orchards. She also learned how to make a house a “home” from her mother, from cooking the best meals without recipes to having the best smelling laundry and sheets. On November 19, 1953, Nona Jo married H. D. “Holly” Jamison in New Mexico. The couple moved back to Hoisington and later divorced. Nona Jo continued to raise two beautiful daughters Tela Jo and Tobi Lu. In June 1987, Nona Jo began working at Kansas Brick and Tile, and later she followed in her father’s and brother’s footsteps by becoming President and General Manager. She retired in November 2010.
After losing her precious daughter, Tela, at the age of 19, Nona Jo continued to hold her family close, as she and Tobi were inseparable. When Tobi met Randy, she gained a son and loved her “Randrew” as her own. As her family grew, they always tackled and celebrated life together. Nona Jo considered her family and her precious puppies Jazzy and Gidget her “best friends and greatest joy.” She embedded her strong faith in each one of them. She lived life by The Golden Rule and strongly believed people should be honest, love others, and have faith in God.
Her light will continue to shine in her family. She is survived by her daughter Tobi Strickland and husband Randy; granddaughter Tandi Mai and husband Clint, and great-granddaughter Leah; granddaughter Kayci Teghtmeyer and husband Daren; and two she helped raise as her own, “son” Matt Jamison and wife Lisa; and “daughter” Shelly Demel and husband Brad. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Helen Smith; her brother, Lawrence Smith; and her daughter, Tela Jo Jamison.
Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, November 19, 2020, with family to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m., at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Friends may also call at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until graveside service at 3 p.m., Friday, November 20, 2020, at Hoisington Cemetery.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 5:00 pm on November 24, 2020, at the First United Methodist Church in Hoisington.
Memorials can be made to the First United Methodist Church of Hoisington, Kans for Kids, and the Golden Belt Humane Society in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home
P.O. Box 146
Hoisington, KS 67544
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 18, 2020
