Barbara Jones

Barbara Jones October 2, 1929 - June 26, 2022 Barbara Jones, longtime Newport resident and business owner, passed away on June 26, 2022 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. She was 92. Barb was born Barbara Ann Bussard in Albany, Oregon on October 2, 1929, the only child of Frank Bussard and Frances Dannals Bussard. As a fourth generation Oregonian, Barb was very proud of her family's pioneer heritage. She spoke often about her great grandfather, James Dannals, and her great grandmother, Louisa Clover Dannals, both of whom traveled the Oregon Trail to the Oregon Territory in the early 1850s, settling in what is now Linn County. Barb grew up and attended school in Albany, graduating from Albany High School in 1947. After high school, she attended Bright's School of Floral Design in Chicago. After graduation, she returned home where she went to work in a flower shop in Albany. In 1948 she married Bob Spangler in Albany. Bob and Barb later welcomed two boys into their family, Mark and Matt. In 1954 the family moved to Newport where Bob went to work for Tom Becker's new radio station, KNPT AM. Barb also went to work for KNPT, where for several years she prepared and maintained the station logs. While she and Bob raised their two boys in Newport, Barb was very involved in school activities through PTA and the KIDS committee. She was also an active volunteer for St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, where she led the Christmas swag fund raising project for many years. In 1971 Barb realized a long-held dream of starting her own business when she established Barbara's Blossom Shop, a full-service florist and gift shop in Newport. This proved to be the perfect outlet for Barb's creative talents and high energy, and the venture flourished. Barbara's Blossom Shop became the go-to florist in Lincoln County, and for more than 25 years Barb and her crew provided flowers and decorating services for countless weddings, funerals, banquets, parties and other prominent events throughout Lincoln County. In 1975 Barb acquired Toledo Florist and operated both her Newport and Toledo shops for a number of years. During her many years as the owner and operator of Barbara's Blossom Shop and Toledo Florist, Barb was very active in the business and civic community of Newport. She volunteered for several years with the United Way of Lincoln County, serving as president of the United Way board in 1982. A devoted member of the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce, Barb served as Chamber president in 1986 and also served several terms on the Chamber board. In 1993 she chaired the Chamber's Newport Seafood and Wine Festival Committee. Barb also served for six years on the City of Newport Planning Commission. After she and Bob divorced, Barb met Herb Jones and they were married in 1979. Barb and Herb enjoyed many adventures together, traveling to destinations across the US and Canada, and to Europe. They especially loved their trips to camp, hunt and fish throughout central and eastern Oregon where, in addition to consistently filling her deer tag, Barb gathered cones, juniper and other greens for her beautiful Christmas wreaths and swags. Barb and Herb also enjoyed many friendships established through their active membership in the Toledo Elks Lodge, where Herb served a term as Exalted Ruler. In 1996, Barb sold the Blossom Shop and retired. In retirement Barb and Herb embraced the "snowbird" life, enjoying the winter months at their property in San Felipe, Mexico. Barb was preceded in death by her first husband Bob Spangler, and her husband Herb Jones. She is survived by her sons Mark Spangler (Sue Ceswick) of Portland and Matt Spangler (Barb) of Newport, her granddaughter Alison Spangler Ellingsen (Peter) of Newport, and her great granddaughter Sommer Ellingsen of Newport. The family extends its appreciation to the caregivers at South Beach Manor and to the devoted team at Evergreen Hospice Coastal for their compassionate and thoughtful care during Barb's last days.

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Barbara Jones

October 2, 1929 - June 26, 2022