How To Keep Up With The
Joneses
“How To Keep Up With The Joneses” is a book written by Donna Jones
Flood, who grew up on the Prairie in the Osage of Oklahoma. Mrs. Flood
said she got her start in writing her book, when her aunt, who lived in
Guymon came to see her dad and told her she was going to leave her
something. Her aunt died that year and Donna received a letter from her
cousin saying: “Mother wanted you to have these notes.” These notes were
the beginning of a book Donna has put together featuring many short
stories about her and her family’s life.
Donna’s late brother was
Paul Jones of Grainola. The ‘old home place’ is in Grainola and with the
permission of the gentleman who has leased the property, Donna has
obtained a slow and methodical step by step work toward restoration of
the old home.
Her immediate family will
be paying for the preliminary work on the property, cleaning, weed
control, spraying, etc.
Donna said she would
eventually like to make a museum of the old home place. She is the
granddaughter, niece and daughter of the men who originally built the
old Jones place in Grainola. The estate was built in 1920. This is just
one story Donna shares in her book.
Donna’s daughter teamed
up with her to save and share histories of the Jones family. These true
stories were handed to Donna over the years. Some are from memory, but
others were kept as notes, although scattered and disorganized.
Donna’s daughter, Kay
Flood Loya organized, typed and put the material into the computer.
They hope the traditions
the Joneses practiced over the years can be passed down to everyone in
the way of short stories that are entertaining and informative.
Books are available at
Clifton’s Gift Shop in Pawhuska and at the Review office in Shidler.
The Review has permission
to take short stories from the book and publish tem from time to time.
Donna has started on her
second book and is also an artist, painting on canvas. As a child, she
started painting on paper and later the opportunity came to study with
many outstanding artists in Dallas, Tx. She says she owes her learning
of techniques to these artists. At the age of 70, she is still painting
and teaching. |