Geraldine Jones

Jerry Jones, a resident of San Antonio since 1946, died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on July 15, 2007 at the age of 85. Jerry was born in a bedroom at her home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She was the first daughter of Virgil Jackson Graham and Albert E. Graham, both of whom preceded her in death. She graduated from El Dorado Arkansas High School in 1940. At the age of 20, she married Howard Kenner, a young pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Less than a year later, he was killed when his plane was shot down over North Africa. As a young widow, Jerry moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, and became active in the USO. Through family friends, she was encouraged to write to Bob Jones, an A&M graduate who at that time was serving in active duty in the Armed Forces in China. They corresponded for two years before he returned to the states to meet Jerry for the first time. After a short engagement, Jerry and Bob were married in El Dorado, Arkansas, then moved to San Antonio. Her husband Bob embarked on a successful real estate and insurance business. After World War II, Bob continued to serve our country in the National Guard, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was supported by Jerry during all of these years, and they raised four children. Jerry and Bob loved to travel, and traveled extensively throughout the world.

Jerry is survived by her four children and their spouses Sally and Eddie Goldbeck, Randy and Leticia Jones, Rick and Pat Jones, and Fred and Connie Jones; thirteen grandchildren, Lara Chris Tyler, Trisha Dan Derry, and Brigette Dave Gross; Miranda Jones, Kamala Jones, Clayton Gabriela Jones, Jenna Jones, Cameron Jones, Tyler Jones, Justin Jones, Allan Hillegass, Chris Hillegass, and Kevin James. She is also survived by her sister, J'Nell "Tissie" Hocutt, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, James Roland Graham. Jerry is also survived by eight great-grandchildren: Kali Tyler, Zachry Tyler, Madelyn Tyler, Nicole Derry, Dylan Derry, Clare Gross, Sophia Hillegass, and Aaliyah Hillegass. Jerry was blessed with many friends, and until near the end of her life she kept in touch with her friends from High School. After 1986, Jerry and Bob spent 2-3 months each year traveling throughout the world, on space-available Air Force planes, and visiting friends in Germany and England. They traveled lightly, not knowing when they went to Kelly Air Force Base whether they would be going some place warm or some place cold. After Bob's departure from this life in 1993, Jerry continued to honor her husband's name, his life, and his memory by making even more friends, while continuing the lonely task of caring for herself and her responsibilities, including her great friendships with her children and grandchildren. She continued to travel on unforgettable trips with her friends to Guatemala. She made her friends feel safe in trusting her with their feelings, and at the Towers on Park Lane, she comforted many people in their final years on this earth. She was always known to her friends for having "that great Jerry smile."

One of her favorite sayings is from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people,

and the affection of children ...

To leave the world a better place...

This is to have succeeded.'

Here's to success!"

Jerry will be missed deeply by her family and her many friends. The family will receive friends at a visitation on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at Porter Loring, 1101 McCullough, from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. A remembrance and celebration of Jerry's life will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 19, 2007 at the Towers on Park Lane, 1 Towers Park Lane. Private interment will occur at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers are Fred Sumner, Jennings Anderson, Harold W. "Dick" Dickerson, Kenneth G. Burton, M.D., Harvey Marmon, John Webb, and Ed Goldbeck, Sr. The family wishes to acknowledge the loyal, faithful and loving care provided to Jerry by her caregivers: Juanita Maciel, Victoria Balderas, Sonia Schoch, and Hope Lopez, as well as the staff at the Towers.