Leila Mae (McCullick) Jones

Leila Mae (McCullick) Jones, 87, of El Dorado Springs, passed away at her home on Monday, March 11, 2024.  Leila was born Jan. 12,1937, to John Alvin and Lorena Marie (Ellerman) McCullick in St. Clair County. Leila was raised on a farm in St. Clair County and attended a country school there.

On March 23, 1956, Leila married James Lowell Jones at the home of their Pastor Samuel Williams. Leila and Jim spent most of their married life in El Dorado Springs where they raised their children: Brenda, Patricia, Linda, James Randall (Randy), and Kimberly.

Leila started working at the International Shoe Company in El Dorado Springs at the age of 16 to help support the family.  She worked there for several years before quitting to stay home to take care of her children. While she stayed at home with the children, she provided in home childcare. After the kids were older Leila returned to work.  She worked at Sperzel Industries in Nevada. From there she went to the Cedar County Memorial Hospital, doing the laundry, where she worked until she retired at the age of 72. Leila was a devout Christian and attended the El Dorado Springs Church of God (Holiness) most of her life until her health started failing. She then would listen to Pastor Joe’s sermons on the radio every week until her death.

Leila enjoyed sewing, quilting, cooking, reading, taking long walks and traveling until her eyesight and health started failing and she was no longer able to do these things. The thing she most loved was spending time with her family.

Leila is survived by her five children: Brenda Herbold (Randy), Trisha Toth (Michael), Linda Post, Randy Jones (Julie), and Kim Barker (Brandon); grandchildren: David Keller, Adam Keller, Sarah Nelson and husband Tom, Emily Hodge and husband Grady, Maegan Toth, Caleb Jones, Alex Toth, Hannah Post and Raenna Barker; four great-grandchildren: Leela Keller, Adelaide Nelson, Beckett Nelson, and Oliver Hodge; siblings: Leo McCullick, Bob McCullick (Jolene), Wanda Worthington (Wayne); and several nieces and nephews.

Leila was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her parents, John and Lorena; her brothers, Leroy McCullick and Wayne McCullick; sister, Faye Amick; and son-in-law, Frank Post.

Funeral Services were held at the El Dorado Springs Church of God (Holiness) on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home. She was laid to rest at El Dorado Springs City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to El Dorado Springs Church of God (Holliness) for missions.