Patricia (Tricia) McMillen Jones

Patricia (Tricia) McMillen Jones, 63, passed away on Wednesday November 10, 2021, at her home in Cary, North Carolina surrounded by her loving family. Tricia lived a life focused on family, with a determination to provide the care and attention they needed to thrive.

Born in Anderson, Indiana to Earl and Rose Marie McMillen, she and her two younger siblings spent most of their youth in Knoxville, Tennessee. She attended the University of Tennessee where she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration and fell in love with Don Jones. They were married in 1980. Don’s career took them to Nebraska, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, and Missouri before they settled in Cary in 2004. From a “singing family”, Tricia was an active choir member at her Methodist or Presbyterian church home wherever she lived. She worked in banking for a few years, but her passion and joy were dedicated to her children and husband. Tricia is the proud mother to Meghan, Molly, and Evan and loved each beyond measure. She shared with each the art of cooking, encouraged their competitive spirits in sports and academics, and savored time laughing with them while relaxing on a North Carolina beach. Her legendary holiday meals drew both family and friends to the table, especially her delicious sauerbraten Christmas dinner.

Throughout her life Tricia practiced healthy habits that maintained her mental and physical well-being. One book per week was her reading average for many years, and she doubled her pace after her cancer diagnosis. Her interest ranged widely, but mystery books by British authors held lasting appeal. Her love of reading was an inspiration to family and friends alike. Tricia was an expert seamstress and made intricate outfits for her young children, highlighted in pictures adorning their home today. She was adept at cross-stitch and created many beautiful pieces ranging from birth announcements to expressions of her love for cats. For forty years she prepared wholesome family meals and exercised daily, participating in aerobics, yoga, and aquatic exercise at her local YMCA. Known as the neighborhood walker wherever she lived, Tricia thoroughly enjoyed traversing 5-6 miles each day most of her adult life. When an arthritic hip inhibited her walking, she started lap swimming. Within weeks she was swimming over ½ mile per day - while battling and being treated for cancer.

Tricia is survived by her husband of 41 years, Don, and their children: Meghan and her husband Joe Hyde; Molly and her husband John Franzone; and Evan and his partner Shelby Wilt. Tricia was blessed with one granddaughter, June Adelle Jones Hyde, and completed a final cross-stitch honoring her birth while undergoing chemo. Tricia is also survived by her parents Earl and Rose Marie McMillen, brother John McMillen, and sister Kim Brown.

Her reaction upon learning about the pancreatic cancer and the example she set during the eighteen months spent fighting the disease can best be described as courageous and compassionate. Whether recovering from complicated Whipple surgery or enduring months of chemo treatments, Tricia exhibited astounding bravery and calm in the face of her dire situation. She spoke often about the many blessings resulting from having a strong faith and loving family and friends. Covid-19 protocols prevented close contact between caregivers and patients during her entire cancer journey. However, during the last oncologist appointment where Tricia learned her condition had significantly worsened, she offered a warm hug and words of comfort to that physician who shed tears delivering the difficult news. After her cancer had progressed past the point of standard treatment, Tricia participated in a clinical trial – again exhibiting a compassion for others by advancing the science toward curing this lethal disease. As a final compassionate act, she donated her body to the Duke Anatomical Gifts Program with the desire to improve the health outcomes of future pancreatic cancer patients.

The family wishes to thank the team at Duke Cancer Center who provided her exemplary care, both medically and emotionally. Her team included Gastrointestinal Surgeon Dr. Peter Allen, Medical Oncologists Dr Jingquan Jia and Dr. Niharika Mettu, their staffs, and Duke HomeCare and Hospice. Thanks is also due Medical Oncologist Dr. Ravi Paluri and his staff at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center who provided similar care during Tricia’s clinical trial treatment. The family also expresses deep appreciation to close friends and neighbors Mike and Liz Riegel who prepared delicious meals spanning the entire duration of her treatment. Heartfelt thanks is also due dear friends Ingram and Marilyn Hedgpeth who warmly welcomed Don and Tricia into their Winston-Salem home for the six weeks of the clinical trial.

The family requests that memorial donations in Tricia’s honor be made to support either your local YMCA or the Society of St Andrew, America’s oldest gleaning organization focused on ending hunger. More information about their mission and donating online is available at – https://endhunger.org

A private ceremony celebrating Tricia’s life will be held in the near future.