Mary Ethel Jones, age 76, of Mount Vernon, was greeted by the voices of angels as she as was embraced by her heavenly father in the mid-morning hours of Friday, July 21, 2017. Mary passed away at Mission Manor Nursing Home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on June 14, 1941 in Hagansport, Texas to the late Willie Leroy and Mary Ethel McMillan Brown. At a young age, Mary met a young man named Robbie Gene Jones. To the pleasure of her parents, Robbie and Mary married on October 20, 1956 by Brother Green, at the parsonage of Macon Baptist Church. Together they spent more than 60 years raising a family and living a lifetime of memories that will live on in the hearts of those she knew and loved.
Mary was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Mount Vernon – where she was also a member of the Pairs and Spares Sunday School Class, led by Mike Harper. She was active in the church, especially with her involvement with the youth. She was often a part the skits and musicals and when she wasn’t, she would have been in the kitchen preparing food for the youth. Mrs. Mary also was a part of three mission trips with the youth.
Mary was a hard-working wife and mother. Throughout her lifetime she did whatever was necessary to provide for her beloved family. Though they did not always have what they wanted, she made sure they always had what they needed. Robbie and Mary wed on a Saturday, attended church on Sunday, and began their lives together digging sweet potatoes on Monday. They began their first 8 years of life together living with his mother, Edith Jones. Mary went on to work numerous jobs but the most important to her was her time spent as a substitute teacher and bus driver for Mount Vernon ISD. Mrs. Mary bled Tiger Purple and supported “her kids” even when there weren’t any of her own children or grandchildren participating. She and Robbie attended countless games and spent countless hours working the concession stands long after their children were out of school.
Those who knew Mary best will always remember her for the love and care she had for those around her. From drying out wet socks on the school bus to earning numerous “Sears Courtesy Awards” from Sears as a part time employee, Mrs. Mary always went above and beyond to make sure she did all she could for those around her.
Mary’s love and joy always started and ended with her beloved family. She loved cooking – especially her fried ‘taters and Christmas fruit cakes. Mary and her family spent countless days camping and skiing at various lakes – with Lake Cypress becoming their home away from home. Mary loved taking care of her children and grandchildren and put a value beyond words in keeping her extended family in contact. She was the coordinator of the Brown family reunions at Walleye Park where she was always known as the “baby” of the family.
Mary leaves behind a legacy of love and dedication to her God, her family, and her community that will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Mary is survived by her dedicated husband, Robbie; two sons, Robby Gerald Jones and Ricky Scott Jones, and wife Sheleace – all of Mount Vernon; one daughter, Regena “Gena” Diane Jordan, and husband Garry, of Sulphur Springs; grandchildren, Jeremy Jordan, and wife Melissa, of Blakely, Georgia; Joshua Jordan, and wife Leslie, of Madisonville, Louisiana, Laura Lee, and husband Jonathan, of College Station, Texas, Nicole Boyd, and husband Brian, of McKinney, Texas; Lisa Wilmeth, and husband Roy, of Frankston, Texas, and John Gann, and wife Linza, of Mount Vernon; 15 great-grandchildren; one brother, Charles Brown of Missouri City, Texas; and by a host of other relatives and very special friends.
Mary was also preceded in death by her mother-in-law, Edith Jones and by nine brothers and sisters – Willie Lee Martin, Lenna Mae Tulley, Melvin Brown, Hubert Brown, Alvis Brown, Rex Brown, James Brown, Margie Easterling, and Laverne Day.
Funeral services for Mary Jones will be held at 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at the First Baptist Church of Mount Vernon with Pastor Garry Jordan and Pastor Pepper Puryear officiating. Burial will follow at Providence Cemetery with grandsons Jeremy Jordan, Joshua Jordan, Jonathan Lee, and John Gann serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be held from 6-8 P.M, Monday evening at Sam B. Harvey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Baptist Church of Mount Vernon Youth Group.
