RICHMOND, Texas -- Catherine A. "Cathy" Jones, 59, of Holly Hall Drive, Richmond, formerly of Elkhart and South Bend, died at home Tuesday (Nov. 4, 2008) after an extended illness.

She was born in Elkhart Sept. 26, 1949, to Edward and Donna (Green) Hardy. They survive.

She married Keith D. Jones May 26, 1989, in South Bend. He survives at home.

Also surviving are Ron Eaton of Edwardsburg, Mich., her former spouse and father to her three children; her son, Jeffrey (Velina) Eaton of Edwardsburg; two daughters, Carey (Zachary) May of Cassopolis and Emily (Phillip) Johnson of Cassopolis; four grandchildren; two brothers, Larry Hardy of Reno, Nev., and Douglas (Nancy) Hardy of Sutter Creek, Calif., and one sister, Carol (Donald) Burgess of Elkhart.

One grandson, Zarek May, is deceased.

Friends may call from noon until the 2 p.m. funeral Monday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart,. Burial will follow at Prairie Street Cemetery. Billings is handling arrangements along with Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors of Richmond.

Mrs. Jones was a lifelong registered nurse. She received her bachelor's degree in nursing from St. Francis College in Illinois and her master's from Notre Dame.

She practiced at Elkhart General Hospital and served as nursing supervisor at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in South Bend.

She was most recently employed by the University of Texas Medical Branch Correction Managed Care as a nursing supervisor.

Her friends and family will remember her free spirit and strong desire to care for others.

She made soaps and candles by hand and leaves behind nearly 15 pet parrots she rescued and nursed back to health.

Online condolences may be given at www.billingsfuneralhome.com or at www.garmanycarden.com.

Memorial gifts may be given to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, 2501 Oak Lawn Ave., Suite 435, Dallas, TX, 75219.