PAT LIDIA JONES
1933 – 2024
Pat Lidia Jones was bornonJan.26,1933,and died on Dec. 9, 2024.
She moved to Albany, Texas as a young teenager and soon met A.V. Jones, Jr. with whom she had a life-long romance, Pat(asshewouldquickly tell you to call her) was preceeded in death by her husband, A.V. Jones, Jr.; her son Van Jones, and her sister and brother-inlaw Kay and Ray Kosatka. She also had lost her much loved in-laws, Ann Jones and Jean and Bill Tucker. She is survived by her son, K.C. Jones, his wife Pati and their children Jacob and Barrell Jones, Zach and Sarah Kate Jones and Madison Jones; her daughter Patti Jones and herhusbandCharlesKing; and her son Jay Hardaway and his wife Lindsay. Also surviving her are her brother-in-law Jon Rex Jones and her 10 greatgrandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Pat’s family is especially gratefultothegentle care that she was given by Amy Folsom, Jerica Robertson, Jessica Brooker, the late Kristi Brooker, Tillie Sanders, the wonderful staff at Windcrest, and Hendrick Hospice.
Her family and friends had the painful duty of watching Pat’s long and slow decline from dementia. Patti and K.C. want you all to remember Pat when she was at her best.
She was a small person withabigpersonality.She had a quiet strength, keen intelligence and a disarming sense of humor. When Pat and A.V. returned to Albany from the University of Oklahoma, they enjoyed a circle of marvelous friends, and they will all be remembered for their creative entertaining, generous hospitality, and dedicated support to each other and all things Albany.
Pat was the biggest fan of every activity in which her family participated and was an enthusiastic audience and critic for endlessplays,concertsand sportingevents.Beingthe eternalcheerleaderforthe AlbanyLionswasherthird favoritepastime,onlysurpassed by curling up with a good book or traveling with A.V.
Many of you know her from her weekly column in the Albany News in which she entertained a wide readership with her adventures, philosophy, curiosity, poignancy, and wry observation of the often ridiculous circumstances life brings to us.
Many of you also found your way to her comfortable den and emptied your hearts and cares to her sympathetic ear. While she would chafe at the title of Wise Woman, she knew the power of active and empathetic listening, and while you left feeling better after a glass of iced tea, petting a Yorkshire terrierandarecommended book, the only advice you weregivenwasperhapsthe name of a good therapist.
Patlovedtogoshopping and her favorite “find” was something beautiful and handmade that she was convinced that she could duplicate. “We can do that at home” was an oft-repeated claim. Thus her “exercise room” was a temple to the many arts and crafts that she started. The joy was in the gathering of supplies and the planning, but many did enjoy her crocheted afghans, and strangely knitted sweaters.
Later in Pat’s life she found a new passion for theOldJailArtCenterand loved to recall the middleof- the-night phone call with Reilly Nail, in which they both claimed that the conceptofthemuseumwas born. At this same time Pat was quick to embrace the new technology of the computer and internet. As a life-long learner she spent hours of research on the web and enjoyed sending and receiving emails. Many were recipients of a quick phone call “hurry and run check your email to see the funny thing I sent you!”
Many of you have expressed the added sadness of losing someone during the Christmas season. Her children and grandchildren considered it fortunate to grow up in a familywherebothparents adored everything about Christmas. We prefer to think of her illness as a long dark advent and it is now Christmas morning for Pat.
The family hopes that memorials go to the Old Jail Art Center of Albany, Texas.Arrangementswith Girdner Funeral Home, Abilene. PD
