Dorothy Anne 'Dottie' Jones

Dorothy Anne Jones, or “Dottie” as she was better known by her friends and family, was eighty-eight years old when she passed away on Thursday March 3, 2022, in Cortez. Born to Charles Ford Green and Dorothy Packer Owens on July 25, 1933, in Swedesboro, New Jersey. She lived with her family in Paulsboro, New Jersey and was the oldest of five children. Her siblings were Charles (Sonny), Tom, and “the twins”, Janet and Bob.
Upon graduation from Trenton State Teachers College, she taught first grade in Paulsboro, but in just a couple years she was enticed by a dear “matchmaking” cousin to relocate to Globe, Arizona. There she was introduced to a young cowboy by the name of James Mark Jones who was recently home from serving in the Air Force. Jim swept Dottie off her feet, and they were married on June 9, 1956. They had two children, Neil, and Leigh Anne. Their marriage lasted for sixty-two years until Jim’s death on November 12, 2018.
Initially, Dottie taught first grade in the Globe, Arizona school system but in 1964 the young couple relocated to Cortez, Colorado. For the first two years in their new town, she taught first graders at Kemper School. However, she flourished as an inspiring successful teacher when she changed to the kindergarten level at Beech Street. Her students loved “The Green Room,” as her classroom became known, and she taught many of the youngest generations of Cortez families. During her thirty years of teaching, she was a highly requested teacher and a recipient of the State of Colorado Teacher of the Year Award.
Dottie had many skills that filled her life on the Jones’ Farm. She was a skilled seamstress and made numerous items of clothing for her two children as well as for herself. She maintained a vegetable garden that provided corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and other goodies that paired well with the beef they butchered for the family meals. She was a talented cook and learned to create southwestern style meals after moving west. As a mother, Dottie was a big supporter of Neil and Leigh Anne as they participated in sports and 4-H events over the years.
After Jim and Dottie retired, they travelled with their fifth wheel camper. Their journeys took them around the United States through the south and north through Canada and into Alaska. The trip to Alaska was her favorite but they also enjoyed a cruise to the Caribbean and camped and fished at their favorite lake, McPhee Reservoir. Dottie enjoyed numerous trips with Neil and his family to explore the mountains and deserts in the region using four wheelers. These included the San Juan Mountains, especially the Silverton area, and the Abajo (Blue) Mountains near Monticello, Utah. She enjoyed sitting by the campfire laughing and listening to the stories of the day.
AND we cannot forget what a fan of Colorado professional sports teams she was. The Nuggets, Broncos, and Rockies consumed much of her time. Dottie spent many months with Jim and other family members pursuing the Colorado Rockies during Spring Training in warm Arizona. It was a highlight of her life for many years.
Dottie was preceded in death by her husband, James; her brother, Charles; and her sister, Janet. She is survived by her brothers, Robert Green in New Jersey, and Tom Green in Florida; her son, Neil and Terri Jones, of Cortez; and her daughter, Leigh Anne and Jeff Reinhart of Moab, Utah; three grandsons, Tyrell, Nathan, and Ian; three great granddaughters, Daisy, Lynnlee, Taveya; and two great grandsons, Brantley and Brexyn.
Dottie was passionate about her grandchildren and great grandchildren and enjoyed sitting and watching them play. Being with her family was what she enjoyed most of all. Dottie drew her strength from teaching and loved her students. The many lives she touched in this community and the generations of kids she taught are her legacy.
Memorial contributions can be made in Dottie’s name to St. Jude’s Research Center, stjude.org.