Julie Squier Jones
Julie Squier Jones, 83, passed away peacefully at her home on March 10, 2014
surrounded by her loving family following a 15 year tough battle with cancer, which never compromised or slowed down in any way her energy and wonderful spirit of a total outgoing love, joy and friendship for all those legions of individuals whose lives she touched.
Born September 21, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan to Carl Browne Squier and Lenna Mills Squier, Julie moved to Los Angeles (Burbank) almost immediately because her father was running Lockheed Aircraft during the depression. She had an exciting life from the start. Her father, a World War I veteran in France with the 90th Aero Squadron and the 13th licensed pilot in the United States, introduced her to the giants of the aviation industry during its age of glamor, adventure and excitement. She felt great joy in meeting Emelia Earhart, whose autograph she kept for the rest of her life. Eddie Rickenbacker gave Julie and her sister the raft he spent a month in when forced to ditch his plane in the Pacific during World War II. On a lighter note, there was Roscoe Turner who took her flying with Gilmore, his lion cub. Tragically, her mother was killed in a plane crash when Julie was 7 years old at which time her Aunt Leila Chappell, who was widowed, came to live with and help raise Julie, her sister Linda and her cousin Camille. She became a great swimmer and horsewoman with an English jumper called Rick Forine.
Julie graduated from The Marlborough School in 1948 and graduated from UCLA in 1952, where she was a proud Delta Gamma sister, and obtained a Teacher’s
Credential. Julie also went to the University of Mexico where she “brushed up” on her Spanish as well as watching a lot of bull fights and scaling Indian ruins. Thereafter, she taught kindergarten and 1st grade for almost two decades at various elementary schools in Southern California. She was also a long time member of the Junior League of Los Angeles.
Julie became the wonderful loving mother of three children, Lettice (Jeffrey) Carroll, Thomas (Jeannie) Jones and Christopher (Bobbi) Jones. Ultimately she became the grandmother of eight, Jonathan (Jeana) Jones, Wesley (Jenn) Carroll, Blake (Nicole) Carroll, Julie Carroll, Ryan (Kristine) Jones, Morgan Jones, Taylor Jones and Madison Jones. Julie is also survived by sister, Linda Henry; nephew Lex (Anna) Hanson; niece, Tori LePore; niece Leila (John) Campbell; and niece Lisa (James) Eddy. Julie also leaves behind eight great grandchildren who were the light of her life in recent years. She was a bit of an “Auntie Mame” to them and communicated with them constantly, even during the last days of her life. All of her descendants know that they have had one of the most unique, spontaneous, gracious, smart, generous, humorous and loving ancestors ever.
Julie married a serious sailor, traveler and leading trial attorney, H. Gilbert Jones on February 15, 1964. This union caused her to be heavily involved in sailing and travelling all over the world. In 1986 she and her husband were awarded the prestigious Blue Water Cruising Award from the Los Angeles Yacht Club for sailing their boats in
Alaska, Mexico, through the Panama Canal, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Over the years she was the fabulous chief supporter and hostess for her husband in connection with his being Commodore of both the Transpacific Yacht Club and the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.
The same was true in connection with her husband’s involvement in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the American Board of Trial Advocates where she was the National First Lady during his Presidency in 1989. In that capacity, she traveled the world and became lifetime friends of people everywhere. Julie was the glue that held people together; people sought her, wanting to share in the love, interest and genuine affection she exuded.
Julie is lovingly remembered by her family and friends as being richly blessed in her adventurous life with an engaging smile, a gentile charm, and quick wit. Julie is known for her wonderful sense of humor and a profound love of life, family, children and friends. She is remembered as being quick to include others and was always warm and outgoing. Julie was a very socially active woman who was known to have a deep enjoyment of games of all kinds. She thrilled to play and often won highly competitive matches of tennis, backgammon, dominoes and cards. Some of her happiest times were spent yachting with her husband, family and friends; enjoying a glass of wine while telling humorous anecdotes.
At an early age, Julie committed to memory a vast number of vintage poems, songs and stories that came from a more refined, earlier time. Her family recalls with wonder that she was able to recite and sing from memory hundreds of songs and poems that are now seemingly lost in the fogs of history. As one longtime friend wrote, “giving, caring, shining your sparkly self into our lives, treating us with your honesty when coming to you for your evaluation and opinion, open expressions of displeasure when due and rushing to our sides when you saw our wounds had to be nurtured. You already have been an angel on earth strumming your lyre to make joyous music for our ears.”
At Julie’s request, there is no memorial service pending at this time as she hated to miss an occasion and claimed she already had more parties than she deserved. In lieu of gifts, Julie wanted you to buy an orchid plant and think of her fondly as you nurture it.