Lory Basham Jones, writer, former actress, and widow of actor Dean Jones, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2026, in Gettysburg, PA, at age 92. Lory, who performed under the stage name Lory Patrick, appeared in numerous film and television projects, including Wagon Train, Tales of Wells Fargo, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Surf Party, and Bonanza.
Born Loretta Basham on April 8, 1933, in Beckley, West Virginia, she was the daughter of Carl and Almedia Basham. After graduating from Oak High School, she moved briefly to Detroit to begin a modeling career, then to New York City, where she worked as a model in print and TV commercials. She soon landed a spot on the NBC game show, Split Personality, filming in NYC before relocating to Los Angeles, CA. After an appearance on The Loretta Young Show, she was signed by Universal Studios to co-star with Dale Robertson in NBC’s Tales of Wells Fargo series as Lory Patrick. She appeared in over 70 television series during her career, including The Many Loves of Dobie Willis, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, the G.E. Theatre with Lee J. Cobb, Alcoa Presents with Fred Astaire, and Dr. Kildare, among many others.
While acting, Lory began writing and penned episodes of Bonanza, which was groundbreaking at the time for a female writer on a western TV show. After retiring from acting in the late 1960’s, she continued writing TV and film projects and was a columnist for a writer’s magazine. As an author, she wrote the award-winning devotional book Hearing God, which received a 2000 “Excellence in Print” Award.
Lory was on the U.S. and International Board of Food for the Hungry and the Board of Regents of L.I.F.E. Bible College. Lory and her late husband, Dean, served as elders since 1978 for The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. In 1998, Lory and Dean founded Christian Rescue Committee (now called Christian Rescue Fund) an organization which provides a way of escape to Jews, Christians and others persecuted for their faith, where Lory served as Vice President. The Joneses, who established a counseling ministry, traveled extensively for secular projects as well as charitable organizations and co-hosted numerous events. Lory and Dean were also spokespersons for the Miller Center for Communications Arts at Asbury University in Kentucky.
In 1984, Lory directed the original stage production of the acclaimed play St. John in Exile starring Dean, which toured the country and is still performed today. In 1986, when the play was made into a film, Lory was credited as the stage director.
After Dean’s passing in 2015, Lory moved from Tarzana, CA, to Gettysburg, PA, to spend time with family and continued her writing and passion for art.
Devoted to her family, Lory is survived by three children, Caroline Jones and her husband Steve Haugen, Deanna Demaree (née Jones) and her husband, Tom Demaree and Michael Pastick and his wife, Dion Pastick; 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; her brothers, Richard Basham, Tom Basham, Paul Basham (Ethel); her sister Carol Vanderhoof; and numerous nieces and nephews and extended family. In addition to Dean and her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Charles Basham and David Basham.
A memorial service will be held on April 25, 2026, at 11:00 am at Mossy Living Word Church, 790 Okey L. Patterson Road, Scarbro, West Virginia 25917. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lory’s name can be sent to the Mossy Living Word Church, Pentecost Walk | Tom Demaree, or the Christian Rescue Fund c/o Jubilee Campaign USA Funds – Jubilee Campaign USA