Mary Louise Taylor Jones
1931 -2024
Mary entered the presence of her Lord and King on July 19, 2024, joining her beloved daughter Pamela (who preceded her in death). Mary is survived by her husband of 73 years, Evans, her son Gregory Jones (Lindsay Jones), son in law Martin Pugh and daughter in law Linda Pugh, son Brett Jones and daughter in law Karena Jones and her daughter Elizabeth Brown (Jemaine Brown), fourteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Mary was born in Dalhart, Texas in 1931 and relocated to Southern California with her family in 1935. She attended elementary school in Santa Ana and Tustin and graduated from Tustin High School in 1949 with Highest Honors. Following two years at Santa Ana Junior College, she earned an A.A. degree and married Evans (first meeting him in the 7th grade). Mary and Evans began their married life at Cal Berkeley, where she worked to help support him through architectural school.
Following college and during Evans’ service in the Army, Mary gave birth to Gregory and Pamela. Post service, the family of four moved to Los Angeles and Mary cherished her time at home with her children. Once the children were in school full-time, Mary decided to go back to college to get her bachelor’s degree in teaching at Cal State Northridge. She taught Art and Third Grade for two years before she and Evans decided to add to their family, with Brett and Elizabeth arriving soon after.
In the mid 1970’s, Mary and Evans followed his parents to the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, where they would call home for the rest of their lives, notwithstanding a couple stops at local beaches for their weekends. Her passion for art grew as the children became independent and the needs of the workplace waned. She loved to paint people and capture their character, her portfolio filled with works in different media. She joined other Santa Ynez Valley artists and helped start the Los Olivos Art Gallery.
Mary was a voracious reader and was often “more than happy” to sit down with a good book and a cup of coffee. She loved sports, especially football and tennis. The Tennis Channel became a recent favorite. She loved family get-togethers, often planning well in advance and setting the table days before an event.
Retirement was a bad word in the Jones household, but as life began to slow down, her desire for travel increased and she enjoyed many excursions around the country and Canada with Evans and their best friends, Marilyn and Doug.
Mary received and accepted the gift of salvation thru the Lord Jesus Christ in her late sixties and loved and worshipped Him with Evans and her beloved Church Family. Under the leadership of Pastor Blain Gibbs, she became a Berean (Acts 17:11), always thirsty for His Word. She enjoyed Service and Bible Study for two decades, relying on her God thru life’s twists and turns.
Moving to Atterdag Village in 2018, she loved not having to cook and enjoyed the fellowship, classes and food. She was so grateful for the kind and wonderful treatment from the staff, nurses and leadership, under Executive Director, Chris Parker.
Until her last day, Mary loved seeing her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and hearing all about their lives. She was a strong, gentle, kind woman that loved to work, ponder, talk, gather, plan, decorate, redecorate, and she will be incredibly missed by her husband, family and friends!
Until we meet again and worship Him together!!
A Celebration of Life has been planned for August 31st at 1:00 pm at Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard – Cremation Garden, all are welcome.
In lieu of flowers we ask that you consider a donation to the Atterdag Village Scholarship Program for low-income seniors or to Grace Bible Church, Solvang.
Loper Funeral Chapel Directors