Jody Upton Jones of Houston, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at the age of 63, after a valiant, hard-fought, three-year battle with cancer. She was lucid until the end, and took the opportunity to say goodbye to family and friends before she passed.
Jody was born in Glenview, Illinois, the youngest of three daughters born to Burt and Sunny Upton (later Hepner). She was popular at Maine North High School, and enjoyed day trips, dancing, and playing games with friends. She met her husband, Dave Jones, at a restaurant in Glenview in 1981 and they married in June of 1983. Jody and Dave had two children: Lea (who preceded Jody in passing in 2018) and Brent.
Jody is also survived by Lea’s daughter, Haley; Jody’s sister Susan Upton Douglass (Scott) and nephews Nathaniel (Melissa Perret) and Martin (Molly); and great-nephews Owen and Jake Douglass. Jody’s older sister, Barbara Upton, predeceased her in 2001. She is also survived by Dave’s sisters Patricia Altenberg [Fred] and Joni Peterson.
Jody developed many talents during her lifetime. She was certified as a “master gardener” in Texas. Her gardens were award-winning and stunning; she cultivated exotic flowers and created a beautiful waterfall area in her backyard that was a source of comfort and inspiration. She was also a gracious and talented cook and homemaker. She had a flair for color (her home was decorated in eggplant purple and lime green), and she enjoyed entertaining friends and family with delicious homemade meals. Her wardrobe was elegant and colorful as well.
She was renown for her generosity and kindness. Jody volunteered for many years for Meals on Wheels, making a point to stay and visit with lonely elderly recipients of the meals. She made friends everywhere she went, from merchants and waiters to workers and neighbors. She treated everyone with dignity and respect, taking an interest in everyone, valuing their contributions.
Her funeral will take place on January 3, 2023 at 12noon at Katy Funeral Home, 23350 Kingsland Blvd, Katy, TX, followed by internment at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Jody’s memory to the American Lung Association.
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