Faren “Quay” Quay Balkmon-Jones

On January 13, 1965, God blessed the union of Henry Lee and Maxine Green Roby with another beautiful child. Faren Quay Roby “Quay”, in Waterloo Iowa born at Allen Memorial Hospital. She was the 3rd of 4 children that filled this family. Faren attended East Waterloo High School.

Following High School, she enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1984 and would serve a year before switching branches. Quay met and married her first husband in Waterloo, Iowa and later divorced. After completing 1 year in the army Quay decided to continue her service but with another branch of the military.

She later reenlisted to the United States Navy where she served from May 13, 1985 – March 1, 1989. During her time in the Navy, she met her beloved husband of 36 years, Gregory Jones. They were married on March 31, 1989, in Lemoore, California at a small chapel surrounded by close friends. Greg and Quay resided in Key West Florida where they spent 4 years enjoying Navy life.

While living in Key West, Quay was always giving to others and would host family and friends during the summer months.Quay enjoyed traveling and helping others and she loved her family. Quay was the most loving and caring person that you would ever want to meet. Her laugh was infectious, she was always positive and helpful in every way. Be it a kind word, a ride, money, advice, whatever you needed she was there for you day or night.

She was employed as a care giver which is testament to how much she loved helping others.

Her most enjoyable hobby was reading. Quay has over 1k hard and soft covered books, and over 500 audio books. She was an avid reader of romance and mystery novels and not just any novel, it had to have a plot, or she wasn’t interested. She researched before she would buy a book and if it wasn’t intriguing, she would switch authors. Even after her illness took her ability to read the words on the page, she started ordering audio books so her passion could continue. She spent hours and hours engulfed in the twists and turns of the savory characters and would not answer her phone if you interrupted her during the “good parts”. Quay also liked to try her luck at the casinos. While living in Iowa she would jump in the car with her mom and brother and head to the casino straight to the high roller room. Oh, the stories they told about how much they won and lost. She liked playing the lucky 7s slot machines.

While living in Iowa Quay decided to go back to school to get her associate in science degree in Child Development where she graduated in 1996 from DMACC. (Des Moines Area Community College)

Quay and Greg have lived in several counties in Iowa, and Florida but decided to buy a home in Dunedin, Florida in 1996, where she currently resided until her death. Knowing that the end of her life was near Quay seized the opportunity to declare her love of God & her appreciation for the many blessings she received in life.

During those final bittersweet moments, her gift of gab, love, and compassion for others was in full force. Quay took every opportunity to love up on us until she took her last breath. Her spirit of love filled the room & hearts of those surrounding her with love.

With her husband of 36 years by her side, Quay passed away peacefully on the evening of May 21, 2025.

However, her legacy of love continues to live on!

Quay was proceeded in death by her grandparents Wardean and Charlie Green, John Henry and Marie Roby, father, Henry Roby, her sister, Yolanda Harris, her mother-in-law, Everyl J. Jones, father-in-law, Bobby G. Jones.

She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Greg Jones, her mother Maxine Scott-Foster, her brother Wayne Roby, and sister Chrystal Moody (Lincoln). Her adopted brothers, Michael Scott, James Foster, adopted sister Alisia Foster. Stepsisters Sabrina Lynn, Heather Roby, Dr. Tiffany Evans. Her stepmother Inez Roby, sister-in-law Sandra L. Jones, Lashonda P. Jones, brother-in-law Michael D. Jones, Anthony M. Jones and a host of nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, cousins and friends whom she loved greatly. Her niece, Porsha White and nephew Raymond Scott, held a special place in her heart as she acted as a surrogate mother to them after her elder sister passed at an early age in 2007.

Visitation: 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at Locke at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Ave.

Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church – 805 Adams Street, Waterloo, IA 50703. Burial to follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery-Waterloo.

Locke at Tower Park is serving the family. Please visit lockefuneralservices.com to offer your condolences.