Dona Jill Stone

Dona Jill West Stone passed away unexpectedly on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025, at the age of 78. She was born on March 7, 1947, in Dallas, Texas, to Donald and Virginia West. At the age of two, the three moved to their Mesquite home where her family lived for over 55 years.
She was preceded in death by her father, Donald K. West, mother, Virginia Callaway West, sister, Deena West Sargent, and grandson Russell Baird.
She is survived by her sons, Kenneth (Deidra) Baird and Scott (Stacy) Baird; brother, Jeff (Teresa) West, sister, Bobbie (Ronnie) Blakeley, and brother-in-law, Greg Sargent; grandchildren Kyle Baird, Stori Baird Johnson, Baylee Baird Crumbley, Scott Baird, Jr., Slate Baird, and Emily Baird; great grandchildren Kinlee Crumbley, Krew Johnson, Wrenlee Crumbley, and Kooper Johnson. Other surviving family members include nieces and nephews whom she loved with all her heart, Jeffrey West, Jr., Justin West, Jennie Blakeley Jones, Casee Blakeley Johnson, Cole Sargent, Robert Blakeley, Aimee Blakeley Wiesner, Kimberly Batson, and Donovan Blakeley, along with numerous great nieces and nephews.
Jill attended Mesquite schools from elementary through high school. Jill loved singing and participated in choirs throughout her schooling. She was graduated from Mesquite High School in1965, where she received a voice scholarship to Weatherford Junior College and met Neil Baird. She had the lead role as Lizzy Curry in "110 in the Shade" where she used her incredible, perfect pitch, soprano voice to sing her heart out. Jill and Neil were married at the First Christian Church in Mesquite, Texas, in April 1966. The couple had two sons during their marriage. Over the years the couple lived in Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, and Arlington. Neil and Jill were divorced in 1972. Jill remained close to Neil's family throughout her life.
Jill married Grady Stone in November of 1977 and divorced in July of 1994.
Jill had a successful career in any position that would best support her two sons as a single mother. Early in her career she even drove a forklift. She was a financial analyst for Hughes Training and Simulation (currently Raytheon) in Arlington, Texas, a cost analyst for VIP, Inc. in Grand Prairie, Texas, and senior cost accounting administrative specialist for Thales Training and Simulation, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jill finally retired from her final position with Continental Electronics in Dallas, Texas, in March 2013, and lived in her home in Mesquite for over 12 years.
Jill was an avid lover of travel which included RVing with her sister, Deena, and occasionally her sister, Bobbie. She lived in Germany in her early marriage with her newborn son, Kenneth; visited London, England, several times for job training; traveled the USA by car, bus, trains, and jets. She met Deena and Greg Sargent in Italy for a whirlwind tour. She loved gardening, decorating, creativity in all forms and wished she had become an architect. She had been known to change her own oil, pour concrete front porch steps, and build a wall to create two rooms. She also had every hand tool and power tool any man would want. Afterall, she was a carpenter's daughter.
In addition to traveling, Jill's favorite activities were hanging out with her siblings and their spouses while enjoying brunch and mimosas or what she called "pool time" happy hour on the patio even though she no longer had a pool.
Her family and friends will miss her quick wit, humor, and her beautiful smile.
Memorial service date is pending but will be shared here when it is scheduled.