Jones, Amanda Lee

Amanda Lee Jones - age: 26
(April 17, 1985 to December 29, 2011 )
Resident of Ukiah, California

Obituary:
Amanda Lee Jones
1985-2011

Amanda Jones was born on April 17th 1985 to Belinda Andrus-Strong and Lee Jones. At the age of 3 she was diagnosed with cancer. She had a bone marrow transplant at UCSF and was cancer free at that time. As a child she spent many days with her grandfather Andy Andrus on his walnut ranch in Yuba City. He recalls carrying her on his shoulders through the orchards while irrigating the walnuts. Amanda enjoyed making lunch for her grandfather especially Top Ramen, a meal she would enjoy for the rest of her life.
When she was 4 her Grandpa Andy and Grandma Doris (Andrus) rented the tape Winnie the Pooh. Amanda loved it so much that they rented it 3 times a week for an entire month. Finally they gave her a copy of her own so she could watch it to her hearts content.
In 1998 Amanda moved to Ukiah with her mother Belinda and her brother Bradley where her mom opened Food 4 Less (now Food Maxx). She attended Pomolita Junior High and after went on to Ukiah High where she was on the swim team. During her senior year she was struck a second blow and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes which she would fight for the rest of her life. She graduated from Ukiah High School in 2004.
Despite her health challenges she attended Mendocino College with the intention to get a degree in child development so she could help children. Her affinity for loving and caring for children came naturally to Amanda was a rare gift. Unfortunately between 2004-2006 she was chronically ill and couldn’t finish college. In 2006 she was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. It was at that time that her frequent stays in the hospital began.
In January of 2011 she went to the hospital for her pancreatitis. For the remainder of the year she was hospitalized at various facilities. It wasn’t until December 21st that as if by a miracle Amanda came home to be with family and friends for Christmas. Her Aunt Helen from Louisiana along with her grandparents from Arizona (Andy and Doris Andrus) and other family spent a great day in Mendocino visiting the stores and watching the ocean. Three days later Amanda passed away on December 29th.
It was truly a Christmas Miracle that she got one last Christmas with her family and loved ones before moving on to a better place.
She is survived by her mother Belinda Andrus-Strong, father Lee Jones, grandparents Andy and Doris Andrus, aunt Marilyn and uncle Stephen Andrus, brothers Trent Jones, Bradley Sandberg, cousins Courtney Andrus and Jason Andrus. Preceded in death by her grandmother Georgene Trent and grandfather Donald Trent, aunt Kathy Fear and her cousin Tyler Andrus.
Friends and family are welcome to send flowers or may send donations in Amanda’s name to the American Cancer Society 115 East Smith Street, Ukiah, CA 95482 or Juvenile Diabetes Association San Francisco, CA Office 1900 Powell Street ste 120, Emeryville, CA 94608.
Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 1 p.m. at Eversole Mortuary.