DeNean Luvette Winslett Jones

DeNean Luvette Winslett  was born on December 18th,1972 in Olathe, Kansas to Dennis Jenkins Winslett and Wilda Lucille Winslett.  She died peacefully at home in Mission, Kansas on May 8th , 2022 following her battle with colon cancer.  She was 49 years old.

DeNean graduated from Olathe North High School in 1991.  She went on to receive a Bachelor degree in Psychology from Argosy University before completing a Master of Social Work at the University of Kansas.  DeNean began her professional career at the Westin Hotel in Kansas City, MO, later she worked for Guarantee Life, in Omaha Nebraska, followed by Huntley School High School in Huntly, IL and I-CAR in Hoffman Estates, IL.  Upon returning to Kansas City, she worked at KU Endowment.  Upon completing her Master’s degree and becoming Licensed as a social worker, DeNean worked for Truman Medical Center where she completed supervision requirement for a Clinical Social Work designation. DeNean went on to work at Gilda’s Club Kansas City as the Program Director.

At the time of her death she ran a virtual mental health private practice from the family home.  DeNean enjoyed her work and felt honored to advocate for, educate, and support those she served.

DeNean was married to Thomas L. Jones Jr. from 1997 to 2011. To that union two wonderful children were born.

DeNean was creative and explorative. As a young lady, she played viola and piano, danced with her junior high and high school drill teams and in her adult years she held acting roles in several community plays and wrote and recited poetry.  She was also a connector, bringing friends and family together through book clubs, vision board parties, wine tastings and celebrations where she would happily prepare everything from fried fish and barbeque to formal holiday feasts. DeNean loved her children more than anything in life and enjoyed time spent with them doing activities such as cooking, playing board games, home improvements and traveling. Her children were the most important part of her life and she joyfully took pride nurturing them and their circle of friends. The door was always open, the dining table remained ready for one more plate and school trips always had an adventurous chaperone waiting to board a car, bus or plane.  She supported her children and their circle of friends with unconditional love as they forged their way in the world. Her delightful cuisine, thoughtful counsel, generous nature and comforting embrace will be missed by all who knew her.

DeNean was diagnosed with cancer in 2020, but despite her hurdles, she quietly fought her illness while working hard…at living.  She enjoyed the work she did and continued to engage in providing services to her clients for as long as she was mentally and physically able.  She attributed her ability to stay engaged in daily life and the many “good days” she experienced to the love and concern of her children, father and close friends. 

DeNean was preceded in death by her mother, Wilda Lucille Thompkins.  She leaves to cherish her loving memories, her father: Dennis Jenkins Winslett, her son: Quinton Thomas Jones, her daughter: Dominque Nicole Jones and five siblings:  Dennis Winslett (Felicia), Sonja Molette Winslett-Speed,  Steven Warren, Douglas Warren, and Samuel Warren and a host of nephews, nieces, other relatives, and friends. 

A celebration of life will be 1:00pm, Saturday, May 21, 2022 at Amos Family Funeral Home, 10901 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas. To view the service live CLICK HERE.

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