Carol Anne Jones

Carol Ann Jones died quietly Saturday, March 22, 2014, in her home in La Mesa, CA. Her husband of 36 years, Gordon Jones, and her daughter, Shelly Atkinson, were with her. Both are very proud and inspired by the many things she accomplished in her 67 years.
Those who knew Carol understood that she had long battled Type 1 Diabetes, and endured a multitude of its subsequent difficult physical effects. Perhaps somewhat less well known was the fact that she had suffered with the disease for an astonishing 57 years! In that time, she established a lifelong dedication to diabetes awareness, education and advocacy. Carol held a particular fondness for making a difference in children’s lives. Drawing on her extensive personal disease management experience, as well as knowledge and acumen gained while working with a leading endocrinologist, she taught children and their parents how to cope with and manage childhood Diabetes. While residing in Denver, Carol worked to help establish funding for young people with severe burns at Children’s Hospital. Yet, maybe most compelling was her resolute determination to have her own child – against the advice of physicians in the field.
Carol was passionate about many things and this included an appreciation for the collection of antiques. Her daughter fondly recalls helping her on weekends as a child selling antiques in her mother’s store in Denver. When not antiquing, Carol enjoyed and pursued travel, logging many wonderful and exotic adventures with her husband, including a wonderful trip to China that she reminisced about even days before her passing. Few may know that she worked as a travel agent for several years after giving up her antique store. Back home, Carol enjoyed an extensive family network that included many beloved pets throughout the years . A strong advocate for pet adoption, she and her family adopted many needy and overlooked animals over her lifetime and gave them a terrific home and lots of unconditional love.
To people whose paths crossed with Carol, she may be best remembered for her tremendous generosity of spirit. She seemed to always be offering something of herself to others through her volunteer efforts with countless children’s organizations and to seniors at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center. Whether to council, lend helping hand or just simply a heartfelt smile, her actions spoke clearly of a caring and compassionate person. She appeared to recognize no strangers, and always had a kind word for people she met. Indeed, she loved the art of casual conversation. As those who knew her suspected, she could probably sit right down on a city bus and chat up a monk sworn to silence! She must have had some Irish in that Welsh blood of hers because she had the “gift for gab” and it was one of her many qualities that made her memorable and likable to everyone she encountered.
So Carol Jones died quietly at her home in La Mesa, CA. Four weeks earlier she made the brave decision to quit her lifelong fight with diabetes and the myriad of ailments. She met this challenge with peace in her heart and turned in her insulin for Pennsylvania Dutch Eggnog, a recent Christmas gift from a dear friend. She enjoyed several weeks of Happy Hours with her husband and daughter while they played along with Family Feud, and toasted her full and expansive life. They talked. They said goodbye.

MEMORIAL FUND:
Because of her love for animals, a memorial fund has been set up with the Greyhound Adoption Center in her honor. Contributions will benefit senior retired racing greyhounds that have not found their forever homes due to advanced age or medical conditions. Contributions can be sent via mail to:
Greyhound Adoption Center
PO Box 2433
La Mesa, CA 91944
Please include “Carol Jones Memorial Fund” in the check memo space.
For more information on this organization, please visit www.houndsavers.org