McConnaughey, Della Anna Rose Young Jons

Della Anna Rose Young Jons McConnaughey, 101, died Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, at the Keystone Nursing Care Center in Keystone. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, at Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone, with the Rev. David Lingard officiating. Friends may register from 10 a.m. until service time. Interment will be held at St. John Cemetery in Newhall.

Della was born March 17, 1911, in Van Horne to Franklin Edward and Matilda Sophia (Kerkman) Young. She attended public school in Van Horne and Newhall. She was united in marriage to Clyde H. Jons on Dec. 31, 1930, in Nevada. He preceded her in death in April 1985. On Dec. 5, 1988, she was united in marriage to John McConnaughey Sr. in Yuma, Ariz., and he preceded her in death in September 2001.

During World War II she worked as “Rosie the Riveter” building battleships. She owned three restaurants and worked as a ward attendant at Men's Morningside Hospital. In her leisure she enjoyed dancing, knitting, quilting, fishing, hunting and playing cards.

Survivors include her nieces, Jean Garbers Kubu and husband Gene and Joan Garbers; her nephews, Dennis Young and wife Rene, Richard Hall and wife Ellen, Bob Hall and wife Sharon and Mark Hall and wife Nancy; her stepson, John McConnaughey Jr. and wife Patti; and many great-, great-great and great-great-great-nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and two husbands, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Florence Grovert and Geraldine Garbers; her brother, Wesley Young; two nephews and one niece.

Condolences may be left at

Published Aug. 30, 2012 in The Gazette