Konea Ann (Hendrix) Jones was born December 15, 1935, in Canton, Oklahoma to Albert Foster and Mary L. (Waggoner) Hendrix. She entered the world during a blizzard, so life was exciting from the beginning. Konea passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 27, 2021, surrounded by family and the wonderful, caring nurses at Maple Lawn Manor in Hydro at the age of 85 years 5 months 12 days.

Konea began a love affair with music at age 7 when her mother signed her up for violin lessons from a man going door to door hoping to start a studio. She would have preferred to play piano, which is why her daughter studied piano for 13 years. As a teenager in Enid she participated in the high school and Phillips University orchestras and qualified for All State several times. She also "carried" a tuba in the marching band lthough she never said she could play it.

After her graduation from Enid High School in 1953, the family moved to Stillwater where she attended Oklahoma A & M College and participated in the orchestra. She graduated in 1957 with a degree in Business. As an adult she performed with the Southwestern Oklahoma State University orchestra and in the Clinton Playhouse production of Fiddler on the Roof.

Konea enjoyed sharing her music with people of every age. For many years she led the children in Opening Exercises and Vacation Bible School at First Christian Church. There are countless adults who grew up singing "Dem Bones Gonna Rise Again".   She was a member of the church for 64 years and also played the organ. One of Konea's favorite activities was to join impromptu musical gatherings wherever they broke out. She didn't know a stranger when it came to playing her fiddle.

As important as music was, it paled in comparison to her family. She loved nothing more than to be present for everything they did.

Larry became a part of her life during a six week stint in junior high at Thomas. They later reconnected at Oklahoma A. & M. He was smitten from the beginning as evidenced by his driving over a curb and up several steps while watching his object of affection instead of the road. She was a bit more fickle but was eventually won over by his persistence. They married on June 24, 1956. Just days before her passing, Larry comforted her by saying, "This is a hard thing we're going through, but we'll get through it together." That perfectly describes their sixty-four years, eleven months of marriage.

The couple's first child, Jackie, was born August 25, 1957. As an expectant mother, Konea suffered from a great deal of morning sickness. On her doctor's recommendation, she was to drink beer to alleviate the symptoms. One day prior to a visit from her mother-in-law, being embarrassed and afraid the beer would be seen, she put it in the freezer. You can imagine the disaster that turned out to be.

Ron, the youngest child was born March 25, 1959. He was an athlete from the beginning, playing every sport that was offered. He also raised and showed cattle. At that time it was popular for the calf's tail to be poofed into a ball prior to showing. Most exhibitors tied on a fake one but not Konea's son. Before each event she was right there at the back end with her ratting comb and hair spray. When she was done, it was perfect.

Konea next set her sights on grandchildren, though she felt it was taking much too long. One year during Christmas shopping, she told Jackie, "If you don't have a baby before next Christmas, don't bother to come home!" The threat worked because Season was born nine months later. Konea had a very difficult time deciding what to be called, but Season solved that problem by mumbling "memememe". That was it, and MeMe became her preferred name for the rest of her life. Austin followed two years later and recently surprised his grandmother by playing Amazing Grace on the violin. No one else in the family can manage a note.

Konea is also survived by her sister, Sue Steger of Benson, Arizona, a daughter-in-law, Leah Graves of Piedmont, and three great-grandchildren, Cassie Gabehart, Justen Hunnicut, and Lanee Foust. She was preceded in death by her parents.