JONES
MARY JEAN
October 24, 1936 - July 17, 2008
Mary Jean Jones (nee Murlak) died peacefully after a long and tenatious battle with cancer, on July 17, 2008 in St. Joseph's Hospital, Comox, BC. She was born on October 24, 1936 in Nanaimo, BC.
Mary is predeceased by her mother Tena, father Michael, brothers Mike and Alex, sister Christine, and daughter Jackie. She is survived by her husband, Ronald, her children, Shelly (Ron) Boulton, Ron (Shana) Jones, Kim (Glenn) Cohen, and Angela (Stewart) Hagen; her grandchildren, Amanda, Ron Jr. and Kimberley Boulton, Angela Baxter, Keith Jones, and Samantha and Jackson Greenwood; and her sister Lorene Murlak. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by her family and many other relatives and friends.
Mary grew up in Courtenay. Her father was a coal miner in Cumberland before buying the little corner store (now called the Apple Tree Market) where Mary lived. Her mother Tena ran Tena's Trailer Park at Miracle Beach, where Mary and her family spent many wonderful summer vacations.
Mary and Ron were married in Courtenay fifty-four years ago. Mary lived the life of an air force wife for thirteen years, moving from base to base. It seems there was a child born in each new airforce town they moved to; Comox, Belleville, Trenton, Frankford, Downsview, and Ottawa. In 1965 a new chapter began in Mary's life. The family moved west, back to Courtenay and Vancouver Island, where Ron became an airline pilot. The life of a pilot's wife was even more adventurous (if not downright harrowing at times).
Mary and Ron retired at Miracle Beach in 1990. They had many more adventures on their travels in planes, trailers, boats and automobiles. They travelled the world... Mexico and Yuma were their favourite destinations.
Mary worked hard all her life and made every minute count. She loved to work in her garden and was a skilled and creative landscaper. An avid cook, she enjoyed entertaining and trying out new recipes on her friends. Her apple pies were the best! One of her favourite pastimes was to curl up with a good book in the quiet early morning, or in the mid-afternoon to take a break from her busy day.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Mary at the Valley Vista Estates community hall in Courtenay, July 31 at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Palliative Care Area of St. Joseph's General Hospital in Comox, by calling 250-890-3046.
Farewell to our beautiful mother, wife, friend.
Your battle has been hard-fought, but your journey has finally come to an end.
A song in our distant memory will remind us now and then,
"She's a sparrow when she's broken, but she's an eagle when she flies..." (Dolly Parton)