Mildred Williams Jones Schneider

Mildred Williams Jones Schneider was born October 30, 1915 in Spokane, Washington to Paul and Anna (Fristoe) Williams. She passed away in Olympia on July 1, 2014. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Ken) Strain of Snohomish; her son, Brian Leslie Jones of Bellevue; and stepdaughter, Fran (Harvey) Bonnema of Tumwater. She leaves 10 grandchildren/step-grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren/step great grandchildren. Mildred, Mil, Millie, Mom, Nonie or Gram graduated from Rogers High School in Spokane in 1933. While in high school, she was active in Rainbow Girls, having reached the position of Grand Worthy Advisor. She was also involved in a ski club. After high school, Millie worked as a secretary in the Office of County Superintendent of Schools. In 1937, she moved to Olympia and began working at the Unemployment Office. Millie had a good time playing cards, going to dances and traveling. She met her future husband, Leslie Jones, at a dance in McCleary. They were married September 13, 1941. After Pearl Harbor, Les went to Africa and Europe during WWII. Mill moved to Seattle to work for Employment Security in the Smith Tower. She remembered the excitement and celebrations in Seattle on VJ Day. Mil and Les lived in Spokane and Port Townsend before ending up in the Olympia area. They both worked at State jobs. Les died in January 1964, and in 1965, Millie married Donne Schneider, a widower and a friend from the card playing group. In the 1980s and ‘90s, they became very involved with playing bridge. They also drove to Reno every April and October. Millie was in several women’s bridge groups. Later, during the end of this time, Mil became involved in the Olympia chapter of Sacajawea DAR. Donne died April 1, 2006, and Mil continued to live at Olympics West Retirement Apartments. In lieu of flowers, Millie asked that donations be made to the First Christian Church’s Building Fund or the Olympia Salvation Army. Please leave memories of Millie or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.