Lorene Yonaka Jones

On January 24, 2023, our beloved mother, Lorene Yonaka-Jones passed away peacefully at her home in Cashmere, WA. Lorene was born October 18, 1931, to Dick and Sarah Edington in Bernice, Louisiana. The family eventually moved to Guion (Izard County), Arkansas, where she attended school until the 8th grade when she had to drop out of school to help work the family farm. Later she married G.W. (George) Yonaka and they moved their family to Washington state to work in the fruit industry. They lived in several locations in the Wenatchee Valley and eventually settled in the Dryden area. George worked in the fruit orchard, the Big Y Café and Peshastin-Dryden School as a bus driver. He passed away in 1973. Lorene held numerous jobs including working in the fruit orchards, the Dryden Warehouse, the Big Y Café and in the kitchen at the Peshastin-Dryden School. While employed at the Big Y Café, she was best known for her delicious homemade pies. She also loved to garden, planting numerous flowers every year and keeping her lawn looking very pristine. Lorene loved the holidays especially Christmas. She would always decorate and make sure her home had many lights and ornaments. Later Lorene married Jessie Jones and they moved to Cashmere. They enjoyed doing many things together, including traveling, fishing, and gathering with friends to play cards. They also enjoyed country music. When they moved back to Dryden they started putting on a 4th of July country music jubilee for several years. Musicians and friends from all over the Washington and as far away as Texas and Canada would come to participate in the jubilee. They would camp out at the Jones property all 4th of July weekend, playing music, games and dancing the days and nights away. After Jesse passed away in 2016, Lorene continued the jubilees until they became too much to manage. Lorene eventually returned to live in Cashmere until she passed away. Lorene is survived by her four children, Jerry (Debra) Yonaka of East Wenatchee, Alice Yonaka-Nieman of Dryden, Kenny (Kit) Yonaka of Orondo, David (Callie) Yonaka of Monitor as well as 9 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren. Her surviving siblings include Lena Faye Conrey, Ann Mctigue, Myrtle Ray Edington, and Bud Edington, all of Arkansas, and Eva Dean (Leon) Yonaka of Peshastin as well as numerous nephews and nieces. Lorene was preceded in death by her parents, son Larry Yonaka and husbands G.W. Yonaka and Jessie Jones. Lorene was also an active member of the Dryden Improvement Club. There are no services scheduled at this time.

Lorene Yonaka Jones

October 18, 1931 - January 24, 2023