Dorothy Estelle Thomas Jones, 81, a longtime resident of Jarrell and Williamson County, passed away at home on Monday, February 4, 2013.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel, 393 North IH 35, Georgetown, Texas. A service celebrating Dorothy’s life will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 2:00PM at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel, with Reverend Max Johnson of First Baptist Church of Jarrell officiating. Interment will follow at Corn Hill Cemetery in Jarrell. Honoring her life and serving as pallbearers will be Lyndon Stearns, Don Alexander, Frankie Vrabel, John Grant, Rick Schirmer, Randall Cantwell, Jeff Stockton, and Gary Smith. Dorothy was born in Scroggins, Texas to the late Belvin Burl and Mattie Adeline Gurley Thomas.
Dorothy graduated from McGregor High School and later attended Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, Texas. Her family moved to Jarrell when her father was appointed to First Baptist Church of Jarrell. Dorothy’s mother told her of a “handsome young man” in Jarrell before they ever moved there; she met him one afternoon while swinging in her front yard in 1948. They fell in love and were married on April 2, 1950. Together they began their long life together, building their family and serving their community. Dorothy was very active in her community throughout her life, serving at First Baptist Church in numerous committees and often playing the piano, in the Business Women’s Club, and the Austin Area Car Club. Dorothy worked for over 39 years in the Tax Assessor Collectors office for Williamson County; she was elected as Tax Assessor Collector in 1980. She was very well known for her work in the car department, back in the CB age her handle was “License Plate Lady”. She was an incredible seamstress, making all her daughters clothes and their costumes throughout their lives. Dorothy enjoyed being involved and making a difference; she served on the Jarrell ISD school board, where she helped make a change in dress code for the girls. Dorothy’s artistic nature also showed through the years in her paintings, her family will cherish the memories they have in her works. She took great pride in caring for her family, she loved to cook for them and gather with them, they will always remember with great fondness time past with her special dishes to warm their hearts and stomachs. After retiring from Williamson County, Dorothy remained active in her community serving on the Jarrell City Council. She will long be remembered for her contributions throughout her life to her family and her fellow colleagues.
Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents Belvin and Mattie Thomas; her brothers, Lindley Thomas and Neal Thomas who was killed in Korea; and her grandson, Phillip Stephen Palousek. Dorothy leaves behind to cherish her memory and to carry on her legacy her loving husband of over 62 years, James H. “Buck” Jones of Jarrell; her loving children, Jan Brandon of Houston, Cheryl Hoiby and her husband Matt of Basalt, CO, and James A. Jones and his wife Pam of Fort Worth. Also left to cherish the memory of their “Mommie Dot” and “Grandma” her 11 grandchildren, Emily Brooke Scott and her husband James, Justin Neill Ellason and his wife Laura, Taylor Jordan Ellason, Graham Reid Ellason and his wife Sara, Kirby Mackenzie Ellason, Kourtney Artie Dixon and her husband Eric, Nicole Alyn Wayson and her husband Ryan, Sarah Taylor Berges and her husband Julien, Michael Dane Sanders, James Britton Sanders, and Cadara Caneel Sanders; along with her 9 great grandchildren with another on the way. Dorothy is also survived by her sisters, Ruth Rolston and Annette Thomas and her brother, Donald Thomas and his wife Kon Hue; along with numerous other loving family members and many friends. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the Corn Hill Cemetery Fund.
Personal words of comfort may be sent to the family online at www.gabrielsfuneral.com.
Published in Austin American-Statesman on February 7, 2013
