Phronia Louis Gay Jones Baux
Obituary
January 11, 2007
Phronia Louis Gay Jones Baux died Monday, January 8, 2007.
Phronia was born at Blackfoot, Idaho, on September 26, 1916. Parents were Albert and Louella Gay of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. She attended school in Blackfoot. During the summers, she worked at the Bar B C Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, as a cabin girl.
She married Art Jones in 1933 in Kelly, Wyoming. They lived and worked the upper and lower Bar B C Ranch until after World War II. They managed the Herb Ward ranch at the "Y" in Jackson until 1949. They then moved to Pinedale to manage the Stockman's Hotel Bar and Cafe. They had three children, William (Bill) "Sonny," Norma "Sis," and Charlotte. Art and Phronia were divorced in Las Vegas in 1964.
Phronia returned to Jackson to work at the Wort Hotel as a cocktail waitress. In the summer, she went to Phoenix, Arizona, to work as a salad chef for the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. She met Phil Baux while in Phoenix and returned to Jackson, where they were married. Phronia assisted Phil in his Jackson business, the Pinecone Sign Shop. She did lettering and painting on the signs that Phil built. She said their most famous sign was the "Yonder lies Jackson Hole" sign at the top of Teton Pass, which is still there.
Both Phil and Phronia were avid snowmobile riders. They were members of the Sourdough Snowmobile Club, where they helped for many years with the annual Jackson Hole "Snow King Hillclimb." Phronia remained at their home in Jackson after Phil died.
In her later years, she lived off and on with her daughters in Kimberly, Idaho, and Vail, Ariz. She also lived with Sonny and his wife, Pauline, in Boise for a while last fall.
She is survived by her daughters, Norma Jean Aslett of Twin Falls and Charlotte Kimball of Vail, Arizona; son, William "Sonny" Jones and wife, Pauline of Boise, Idaho; grandchildren, David and Sharon Aslett of Kimberly, Debbie and P. Steinecher of Rock Springs, Wyoming, Denny and Lisa Widick of St. Anthony, Art and Marijo Leon, Tracie Leon, Sonny Ray Leon and Kathy Miller, all of Vail, Arizonad, Randy and Lisa Jones of Park City, Utah, and Renee Jones of Boise, Idaho. She had numerous great-grandchildren. Phronia was the last of the Gay family of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, Idaho.
Phronia loved the Teton Mountains. A memorial service for Phronia will be held The Luton Teton Cabins at Moran, Wyoming, Memorial Day May 26, 2007.
Memorial contributions can be made in Phronia's name to the Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum, 105 N. Glenwood, P.O. Box 1005, Jackson, WY 83001.
Local arrangements are under the direction of White Mortuary, "Chapel by the Park," 136 Fourth Ave, Twin Falls, ID 83303.
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