Ms. Mary Cathleen Jones, age 80, of Edwardsburg, Michigan, passed away on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. No services will be held and burial for Ms. Jones will be on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in the Lovejoy Cemetery, Beaverton, AL.
Ms. Jones, born Mary (Cathleen) Miller, on February 6, 1944 in Winfield, AL to Savoy Lee Flynn and John Roy Miller. Her grandparents were Mary Jane(Young)Flynn and William Farris Flynn from Beaverton, AL and Cathleen(Stone) Miller and John Robert Miller(preacher) from Pigah Methodist Church, Winfield, AL. Cathy was married to Phillip Winston Stewart and had a son, Mark Gregory Stewart. Her second husband was Gary Earl Jones and they had one son, Anthony Gary Jones.
Cathy grew up in Memphis, TN with her mother and brother. She attended East High School and Memphis State University. She and her Mother loved Alabama the Beautiful and visited family and friends often. Cathy spent summers at her Grandpa Miller’s in Winfield or Beaverton with Great Uncles Addie Lee Young and Great Aunt Vanna.
Cathy worked at the Defense Supply Depot in Memphis where she received an outstanding award for service from the Strategic Air Command during the Cuban Crisis. She had several interesting careers such as first woman printing rep, first woman to sell Audi, Porsche, and Mercedes cars in the Michigan area. Cathy owned Odyssey 3 advertising, worked for Harrison Publishing, Chicago, designed and manufactured Quicamp trailers in Elkhart. She worked for Federated Media Elkhart. Later she moved to Thayer, MO, bought a 151-acre farm, worked for Ozark Radio Network and opened the Circle of Art Gallery featuring Native American Artists and their works. Cathy gave of her time, serving on the Downtown Development board, in Elkhart and West Plains, MO. She volunteered and organized events to support mental health treatment and for prevention of domestic violence. She was involved with Native American Groups, organized powwows, and gave guidance to Missouri State University for understanding of Native culture. She was a member of the Echota Cherokee Tribe of AL. Cathy was a “Who’s Who” of the Women in Manufacturing. She was a part of the opening ceremonies of the American Indian Museum in Washington while working for their administration in 2004. Cathy was instrumental in the passing of a local millage for public transportation for those in need in her community. Cathy loved spending time with her sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as her many friends and extended family. She was proud of her two fine sons. Both sons enjoy cooking, as did Cathy. They often shared recipes and cooked together. Organic gardening was her hobby. She loved to cook and enjoyed sharing it with people. Cathy was often available to offer love and support to those in need. Cathy enjoyed life, the good and bad. A favorite saying of hers was “you can’t fully appreciate the good until you have experienced the bad times; it’s God’s way of protecting you.” She was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Edwardsburg, MI. She knew that God was always with her and that prayer works. She loved the Lord, her family, and friends.
Cathy leaves to cherish her memory; Son Mark, (Angela) of Moline, IL grandsons Benjamin (Lauren) of Beecher, IL, Evan (Sarah) of Fort Riley, KS and Colin of Boulder, CO. Son, Anthony(Johna)of Edwardsburg, MI .Grandchildren Amy(Jones)Ryan Yaratch Union, MI, Christian of Cassopolis, MI, Aaron of Goshen ,IN, Jamie of Edwardsburg, MI, Ian of Kalamazoo, MI and Travis of Indianapolis, IN. Great-Grandchildren, Theodore, Waylon, AJ, and Bryson. She had one brother Daniel Bernard Miller (Margaret) of Elkhart, IN, Niece Angela (Miller) Carter of Pendleton, IN and Great Niece Kaitlin. Aunts and Uncles Travis Flynn(Dec), Eunice(Flynn)Pickens(Dec), Henry Flynn(Dec), Collins Redden Flynn(Kathleen Diane)(Dec), R.J. Flynn(Dec), Joe Flynn(Dec), William A. Miller(Dec), Robert Wilburn Miller(Dec), Luther Miller(De), Donald Ray Miller(Dec), Daniel (Hilda)(Dec), Jefferson Bernard Miller(Dec) and Janie (Miller) and Donald Aldridge of Fort Payne, AL. Also many cousins scattered all over the Country.
