Ann Marie Jones

Ann Crowley Jones passed away on April 24, 2023 with family surrounding her. Her life was truly remarkable. Ann was born on October 17, 1929 to Vincent and Helen Crowley in Olyphant, PA. From humble beginnings in coal country at the start of the Great Depression, she rose to top billing of Broadway and London’s West End and then met the love of her life, Steve Jones. Ann was married for 47 amazing years to Steve who passed in 2003 and then married long-time family friend Jim Simpson with whom she had 10 wonderful years before his passing in 2016. She had five children from her marriage to Steve including Stephen (d. 2018), Elisa (Ted d. 2022), Christopher (d. 1960), Thomas (Colleen), and Blaise (Jennifer). She is also survived by her sister Patricia Crowley Friendly (Andy), and 10 grandchildren Gabriele (Dave), Caroline (Jack), Julia (Brendan), Christopher (Kelsey), Stephanie (Shawn), Charlie, Michael, Alex (Brien), Blaise (Kaitlin) and Connor (Liz) as well as seven great grandchildren with another one on the way.

Ann was an unstoppable force of nature from the beginning, excelling at piano, dance and singing. After winning an American Legion scholarship competition at 15 years old, she was sent to New York City in 1943 to try out for Broadway. After winning that tryout, she became the understudy for the role of Laurie in Oklahoma so she and her mother moved to the big city. She took over the role when Oklahoma opened in London’s West End and for Oklahoma’s first national tour across America. She spent years singing and dancing her way across stages of Broadway in numerous productions including Carousel, Paint Your Wagon and Seventeen. One fateful night she was singing in a club in Washington DC when a young country doctor saw her and fell head over heels in love. After seeing her sing 6 nights in a row and escorting her to dinner after each show he asked for her hand in marriage. It was the beginning of the next phase of her life which took her talents from Broadway to Golf Lane, building a house and raising 5 rambunctious children. But as anyone who passed by her house can attest, she never really left the stage.

She embraced the homemaker role with the same energy she did everything including becoming a devotee of Julia Child, a competitive tennis player and a wonderful hostess at many a lively dinner party. Her desire to learn new things and meet new people never waned. She took numerous classes, performed in community theater, became a docent at the American Museum of Art, and was a voracious reader. And it was rare that she missed a theatrical production when it came to town. She was a fantastic Mom, a friend to all and certainly never boring. She was one of a kind and left an indelible mark on the world.

Funeral services will be held at Holy Cross Church in Garrett Park, MD at noon on Friday April 28, 2023. Please send any memorial donations to Catholic Charities of Washington DC or a charity of your choice