Virginia Jones, 57

Virginia Mae (Bloom Bailey) Jones, 57, of Mountain Home, formerly of Glenns Ferry, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003, with her husband and children and nieces by her side.

Visitation was held Monday, Dec. 29, at Summers Funeral Homes, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home with vigil services following. Funeral mass was held Tuesday, Dec. 30, at Our Lady of Limerick Catholic Church in Glenns Ferry. Burial followed at Glenn Rest Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Summers Funeral Homes, McMurtrey Chapel.

Virginia was born on Sept. 8, 1946, in Glenns Ferry, the daughter of Howard and Francis (Laible) Bloom.

Virginia loved Christmas -- it was her favorite time of the year. She was always baking and cooking and had a heart for dogs, her family said. Virginia's dog Lardo was very protective about her up until the very end.

"Her love for her children and grandchildren was also very special," her family said. "She always looked forward to family get-togethers so she could cook and bake her favorite recipes for her family. She always threw in a few surprises."

Virginia also liked to work out in the garden and the yard with her dogs by her side. "She always opened her door to anyone who needed a place to stay. Her kid's friends, they called her 'Mom.' Virginia had a big heart and was always trying to make everyone happy," her family noted.

Virginia put up a long and hard battle with cancer for five years.

She is survived by: her loving husband, who was her best friend and her soulmate, Merrell Jones of Mountain Home; daughter Gina Blandford and her husband, Brian, of Glenns Ferry; sons George Bailey and his wife, Johnna, of Jerome, and Joe Bailey and his wife, Joy, of Torrance, Calif.; brothers Richard Bloom of Nampa and Charles Bloom of Meridian; sister Cynthia Allen and her husband, Jody, and six grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister and numerous aunts and uncles.