Catherine Jones

Catherine Lyla Coates Jones, 91, passed away at her home on December 22, 2022, in Bethesda, MD. She was born on August 22, 1931 to Harold and Jeannette Friedman Coates. A proud native Washingtonian, Cathie attended Western High School and George Washington University. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and was crowned Homecoming Queen in 1951. To her family and loved ones, she was known by the beloved nickname, “Darlin,” coined by her eldest granddaughter.

Throughout the years, Cathie was actively involved in numerous community endeavors, and was especially dedicated to serving at her childrens’ schools. She volunteered for the Westbrook School Carnival, served as the Greens Chair for the Landon School Azalea Festival, chaired the Holton-Arms School Annual Auction, and participated in the Washington National Cathedral Flower Mart. Cathie excelled at a variety of hobbies - she was a talented painter, seamstress, gardener, and florist. She adored serving as a member of the altar guilds at All Saints Church and the Washington National Cathedral. One of her proudest accomplishments was creating the intricate floral arrangement on the Paschal Candle for the funeral of President Ronald Reagan, featured on the front page of the Washington Post.

Cathie was a member of the Washington National Cathedral’s All Hallows Guild, Four Seasons Garden Club, Questers Antique Club, Junior League of Washington, and Washington National Cathedral Puppeteers. Cathie and her late husband, Frank, were members of Congressional Country Club and the Chevy Chase Club. When she wasn’t painting, gardening, golfing, cooking, puppeteering, flower-arranging, or needlepointing on the beach, Cathie was doing the thing she loved most of all - spending time with family and friends. Though she grew up as an only child in a small family, her genuine compassion, humility, exceptional wit, never-ending generosity, and delicious home-cooked meals invited many friends to consider themselves part of “the Family.”

Cathie is survived by her son, John Marvin Jones II (Wendy); daughter, Mary Catherine Jones Thompson (Jim); three granddaughters, Katherine Lyla Thompson Cordisco (Andrew), Jessica Dallas Thompson, and Lyla Lee Jones; and great-granddaughter, Margaret Coates Cordisco. She is preceded in death by her husband, Franklin Pierce Jones, Jr., and eldest son, Franklin Pierce Jones, III.

A private burial service was held in December, and a Celebration of Life will occur at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to All Saints Church, Chevy Chase, MD, or the charity of your choice.