KATHERYN ALEEN JONES

1928-2017

Katheryn Aleen Jones, 89, of Houston, Texas, passed away November 25, 2017.

Aleen was born in Houston on June 8, 1928, the only child of Kathryn Aleen and Clarence Wade Johnson. She grew up in Harrisburg and Park Place.

Aleen was a strong Methodist woman, always a leader, who demonstrated love of family, pursuit of knowledge, service to community, zest for living, and courage.

She and Walter R. Jones were married for 63 years. She was a devoted wife and mother as she also pursued her own career and service life. Walter and Aleen supported each other’s endeavors. She instilled in her children independence, doing good, and being kind. Adored and adoring, Gigi loved each of her grands and great-grands fiercely and individually.

She and Walter raised their family in Freeway Manor and Arlington Heights where they attended Faith Methodist and 1st Methodist, Pasadena. For the last 15 years they have resided at Holly Hall Retirement Community.

Aleen graduated from Milby High School in 1944. She attended Whitworth College for Women in Brookhaven, Mississippi, and Rice Institute. She earned her BS (’49) and MS (’51) at University of Houston. In 1975 she earned a MS in Public Health at UT Health Science Center.

Aleen was a classroom educator in Galena Park, Crescent ISD, Houston ISD, and Pasadena ISD.

She was a member of Pasadena Association of Retired Teachers (past president), Glendale Cemetery Association (past board member and president), HOST (Pasadena ISD), and AARP 55 Alive instructor (20 yrs.), city of Pasadena-Volunteer of the Year Award ’99 and 2001.

She was a charter member of Theta Sigma Chapter of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (past president, vice-president) and recipient of the Alpha State Golden Rose Award.

Preceding her in death are her parents, and her daughter Kristi Lynn Irick.

In addition to Walter, she is survived by children Kay Wren Tobola (Michael) and Ronald Patrick Jones (Debra); grandchildren Katherine Michelle Bright (TJ), Michael Lane Tobola (Stephanie), Tammy Kay Roberts (Andy), Kathryn Rose Irick (Christopher Moore), Matthew Luke Irick, Caroline Perez, Keith Thomas Jones, and Brian Patrick Jones; greatgrandchildren Rowdie Kay and Blaine Bright; Katheryn Aleen, Shelby Wren, and Paisley Michelle Roberts; Eli Courville, Harper and Dalton Lane Tobola; Cosmo and Casper Perez. She is also survived by niece Jackie Jones and nephew Mike Jones (Mary); cousins David Reed Tyler and Marshall Sharp (Doris), and many people that she held dear, special, and close-her friends. She and Betty Pharr Muegge define best friends forever-63 years and counting.

Aleen’s memorial service will be held at 2 pm, December 4, at Holly Hall Chapel, 2000 Holly Hall Rd., Houston, Texas. We will have a gathering at 1:30 prior to the service with a reception to follow.

Donations may be made in her name to ASTEF - Scholarship Fund: ASTEF - Alpha State Texas Educational Foundation, P. O. Box 797787, Dallas, Texas 75379 or First Methodist Pasadena Memorial Fund, 1062 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, TX 77504.