Mary Louise Jones

On September 2, 2025, Mary Louis Miller Jones entered into God’s hands at her residence at The Brookdale in Houston, Texas. At age 98, she had lived a long, full life as daughter, sister, and aunt to her loving family.

She was born in Staunton, Illinois on February 26, 1927, the oldest child of Harry Frederick and Dorothy (Schumacher) Miller. She was born at home and was baptized at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Staunton, where two years earlier her parents were the first couple to be married in the new Church. She attended school through high school graduation in Decatur, Illinois.

After marrying Jack Jones (later divorced), she moved to Tulsa and attended the University of Oklahoma. Transferring to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, she graduated with a teaching degree and moved to Godfrey, Illinois. She became an elementary school teacher at Ferguson-Florissant School District in Missouri, where she was devoted for decades to her 3rd and 4th grade students before retiring.

After the death of her father, Mary became the primary caregiver for her mother. In 1991, she and her mother moved to Scottsdale, Arizona to be near Mary’s sister, Dorothy Young. They lived close to Dorothy in a beautiful patio home across from St. Maria Goretti Roman Catholic Church where Mary volunteered with the women’s guild. She and her sister were also members of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Sodality and participated in their work in the community and the monthly Rosary Group for many years.

In 2023, she officially became a Texan when she and her sister moved to Houston to live at The Brookdale Shadowlake. While there, she survived Houston’s hurricanes, winter storms, and power outages with faith and prayer. Mary was a devoted Catholic, concerned about those around her and her extended family. She was a part of the Rosary Angels group that prayed and attended Mass regularly. She supported the St. Vincent de Paul Society as well as many other Catholic, Veterans, and animal charities.

Mary enjoyed both summer vacations in Arizona for shopping and traveling with family and weekends and holidays visits to family in Sparta, [Illinois]. She loved history and art and had an incredible eye for color, decorating, and classical fashion. Mary also loved reading, watching a movie each night, and dining with friends. When she and her sister moved to a senior living center, they played cards daily.

Mary is survived by her sister Dorothy Ann Miller Young and her family, and by the family of her late brother Harry F. Miller Jr.

Dorothy’s surviving family with her husband, the late Glenn Wilson Young. Jr., includes Mary’s niece Ann Young Keibler and husband Eric, her nephew Christopher Young and his wife Bridget, great nieces and nephews Meagan and William Vaughn-Meija, Austin Young, Amanda and Cameron Burrell, Kailey and Dillion Hennessy, and Hawley and Clay Lofgreen, and ten great grand nieces and nephews.

Mary is also survived by the family of her late brother and sister-in-law Harry and Geraldine Miller, including nieces and nephews John W Miller, Margaret (Peg) and Michael Fincher, David and Jill Miller, and Patrick and Cindy Miller, and Susan M. and Jeffrey D. Odle; great nieces and nephews Jason Miller, Lindsay Fincher, John Fincher, Daniel Miller, Allison Miller, Dustin Miller, Marilyn Valerie Slavin, and Katelyn Odle-Parkinson and David Parkinson; and three great grand nieces and nephews. Mary was also preceded by two of her favorite pets, dogs Casey and Johann.

The family would like to thank the medical staff who cared for Mary in Arizona and Texas, her Arizona caregivers Ofaa Pupua and the late Seini Kale, and her care team at the Brookdale North Scottsdale and the Brookdale Shadowlake Houston for their kindness and care for many years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society in Houston or Phoenix, or St. Maria Goretti Parish in Scottsdale, her home parish for many years. Cards to the family can be mailed to: Family of Mary Jones, 5808 Newcastle Dr. Bellaire, TX 77401.