Louise Lillian Jones

Louise Lillian (Bell, Armer) Jones, 103, of Jerome, Idaho, passed away on August 17, 2025. Louise was born October 27, 1921, in Buhl, Idaho, the daughter of James Edward Bell and Mary Ethel (Smith) Bell.

Louise graduated from Jerome High School in 1939. She married Noel Wayne Armer on August 10, 1941, in Jerome, Idaho. Wayne and Louise had three children, Gary, April, and Janis. During their marriage, the family lived in several locations in Idaho, Oregon, and California where employment was available. Wayne and Louise divorced in 1964, and Louise settled in Jerome to raise her children.

Louise met William Merle Jones though a mutual friend and were eventually married in June of 1967. The couple lived on a 100-acre farm north of Jerome where they raised crops, a very large patch of strawberries, cows, chickens, goats and even a peacock at one time. Merle and Louise were married until his death in January 2000.

Louise worked at Leyson Photo and then later at Ambrose Photo as a photo touch-up artist. Her daughter remembers Louise working in the corner of their living room making minor adjustments to the negatives of the portraits the studios had taken. Fixing a slight blemish, scar, or imperfection with a little tool, and then returning the negatives to the photo studio for printing. In 1960, Louise started working as a teller at Mountain Bell, where she worked until she retired in 1981.

Louise had several hobbies. Over the years she painted just about every type of scene on various wood items (most of which Merle created in the woodshop), saw blades, glass, rocks, and even a gourd or two. Her artwork was always prominent in her home as well as her extended family and friends. Merle and Louise were avid rockhounds, always finding time to travel around Idaho and Oregon to search for rocks that they would bring home, and Merle would make into beautiful jewelry at their 2J Rock Shop on their farm. They were also members of the Horseless Carriage Club of America and would participate in area car shows and parades in their 1921 Ford Model T.

Louise lived a long and happy life, creating loving memories with family and friends including putting multiple puzzles together with her sister, traveling with Merle and friends to Arizona and California, hosting family get-togethers on the farm, making hundreds of batches of strawberry freezer jam, and never missing Dallas or Lawrence Welk in the evenings and later every episode of the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross.

Remaining to cherish Louise’s memory are her children, Gary (Shirley) Armer, April Mangum and Janice Hancock; grandchildren, Kim (Dave) LaCelle, Amy (Robert) Stapley, Chris (Kristyn) Hancock, and Heather Hancock; as well as four generations of great grandchildren.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Louise’s memorial webpage at www.farnsworthmortuary.com.