Cora "Cory" Evelyn Jones

Cora (Cory), Gaches, Heller, Tracy) Jones of Pacific Grove CA was born on September 8, 1948, in Santa Rosa CA. In 1956 her family moved to Monterey, where she grew up near the High School in a home on Logan’s Lane. She shared those growing up years with her younger brother Ricky, older sister Bonnie, and twin sister Linda. The three girls were known in High School, as the beautiful “Gaches Girls”. On summer days, their mother Margery Keleher, would walk her children to Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove. There, they enjoyed the sun and calm waters of that beautiful iconic beach. Years later, Cory, Linda, Bonnie, Marge, and Rickie, made the beach at Lover’s Point, their children’s beach.

Cory graduated from Monterey High School in 1966. She immersed herself in the culture, beauty and wonder of Carmel, Carmel Valley, and Big Sur in the late 60’s, early 70’s. In 1968 Cory gave birth to Cole Morgan Heller in Santa Cruz CA. Cory was one of the inspiring women baking healthy bread at “The Granary”. There, her love of creating, and more importantly sharing, healthy food was exemplified as part of the empowered women that opened “The Granary” on Central and Dewey Avenue in Pacific Grove. Daily, they baked and sold the best fresh healthy bread on the Peninsula. You can still see Cory in the middle of the mural on the Dewey Ave side of Happy Girl Kitchen. She is the one in the middle with the long blond hair, glowing smile, and welcoming wave.

Cory blossomed in the beauty, magic, spiritualism, and artistry of Esalen, Tassajara and Carmel Valley of the 60’s & early 70’s. Down the coast, in Big Sur, Cory spent many days with her friend and mentor, Emil White (Henry Miller’s longtime friend & confidante). At the Tassajara Zen Monastery she lived, worked, and played with the monks. While at Esalen Institute, Cory embraced its mystery, magic, and spiritualism.

Her little red house in Carmel Valley, across the wooden bridge in Hitchcock Canyon, was the quiet place where she and her young son Cole lived. In the stream under the bridge Cole and his cousin Greco, hunted tad poles.

In 1972 Cory moved to Honolulu, doing the hard work of self-realization with some of the founders of the “New Age” spiritual awakening movement. A few years later she moved to Kamuela, on the Big Island. There, she opened Rainbow Mountain Natural Foods & Juice Bar. It was the first health food store and sandwich counter in West Hawaii. She loved creating and sharing delicious healthy meals for everyone. It was “THE” stop on the way to Hapuna Beach.

Always an entrepreneur supporting her friends’ interests and visions, Cory contributed to Richard and Laura Spiegel’s start up “Volcano Island Honey Company”. For decades they harvested and sold the one of a kind Organic White Kiawe Honey. Cory also owned, with her partner David Tracy, land, homes and an apartment in and near Waimea, HI.

In 1983, at a Waimea party, Cory met Bart. They instantly fell in love. Nine months later, they were married on their 10-acre Macadamia Nut farm on the Big Island, near Honokaa. Together they managed their 10-acre mac nut orchard. With Bart’s best friend, Tom Israel, they built a mac nut cracking and packaging factory (at the time one of only six in Hawaii). Later Cory and Bart incorporated Kahili Confections, selling tens of thousands of 8 oz. boxes of chocolate macadamia candy to Safeway. Later, their new LLC, Kuaola Management Co., signed a contract to manage the 1,000-acre Kapulena Orchards and its 26,000 macadamia nut trees.

In 1994 Cory and Bart moved to Las Vegas. Bart wanted to take advantage of an opportunity to work with his brother Steve’s company, Merlin Custom Home Builder, as well as live near his 80-year-old father and other brothers. With her typical positive spirit, Cory accepted the challenge of moving from her beautiful, rural, Big Island home to a city house in Las Vegas. Cory’s support made it possible for Bart to eventually become CFO and part owner of Merlin, named NAHB 2017 National Custom Home Builder of the Year. Cory quickly made friends in their new community with a new focus for her giving. Their home was one of eighty in an HOA neighborhood. The HOA included a 24/7 guard house, a landscaped park and streets. All needed to be managed and maintained. Cory learned the names of all 80 homeowners and their children. For over a decade she balanced the wants, needs and expectations of all the neighbors, guiding everyone to a common ground. Cory was the driving force behind the well-run business of maintaining all the HOA’s property, keeping budgets in line and neighbors happy.

In January 2021, Cory and Bart permanently moved to their home in Pacific Grove. It was purchased in 2013 as their retirement home and their new life in Monterey.

Cory’s life was one of giving through sharing the joy and fun of life. Giving love and joy to her husband, son, daughter, grandchildren, great-grandson, nieces, nephews, and stepbrothers. That same love and joy was extended to all her Hawaii and Las Vegas extended family and friends. Cory gave the kind of love and friendship that was authentic, without compromise and complete. She had the rare ability to express her opinion, project her will and demonstrate her commitment, without creating a defensive response.

Everyone who stepped inside Cory’s home entered a place of warmth, beauty, and sanctuary. That same care and commitment extended to all the neighborhoods, wherever she lived. Cory loved everything that came with food. The camaraderie, the artistry and the joys of planning, preparing, sharing food and the fellowship of dining. Her “Cory Cakes” (pancakes) are still favorites and are warm memories for people of all ages and in many places. At gatherings, she was able to find time to visit everyone, engage them in her warm and memorable conversations. Her presence was always a bright light in the room. She will be missed by so many. Cory’s gift of giving will continue through all those who received her love, insight, and spirit.

On June 7th, 2024, Cory peacefully passed away. She was at home with Bart and Cole by her bedside. She was 75 years old.

Cory is survived by her husband of 42 years Bart Jones, sister Bonnie Trigg, son Cole Heller, daughter-in-law Michaela Heller, Grandchildren Alauna Egbeleou, Ashraf Egbeleou, Jonah Heller, Logan Heller, Kaili Heller, Great-Grandson Anelka Egbeleou, Nieces Megan Sherman & family, Rachel Frey & family, Nephews Greco Gaches & family, Dylan Coleman & family, Many beautiful Great Nieces & Nephews, God-Child Shaina Miller, stepbrothers Mark & Todd Gaches & families.

A Celebration of Life planned for Carmel Valley September 8th (Location to be announced)