Mary L. Stoltz Jones

Mary was born in Coronation, Alberta, the younger sister to 3 older brothers. After graduating high school from Mount Royal College, she went on to complete her BEd from the University of Alberta with a degree in Home Economics. Mary’s teaching career covered many locations and subjects including 1 summer at the New Moose Community near Breton, 1 year in Marwayne, Alberta, teaching grades 4, 5 and 6 (to earn enough to finish a 4th year of university) and 2 in Camrose, Alberta, teaching home economics. After Camrose, she applied for a teaching position with a fruit company teaching in Central America. Before she heard back from the company, she accepted a position in Yellowknife, NWT, setting up their Home Ec department (one of 6 teachers in a town of 2300). There she met her husband, G.A. Jones and following a year in Yellowknife, the couple were married in Edmonton in 1954 and lived in Sherwood Park and Calgary before moving back to the family farm in the Silver Heights area, in east central Alberta in 1964. Shortly after moving back to the farm, she went back to teaching at the Brownfield School, grades 5 & 6 and Junior High math. Moving to Ponoka in 1976. Mary taught at the grade 5 level and finished a 22 year teaching career teaching home economics at the junior high school.

After retiring in 1986, Mary was actively involved in numerous organizations including Ponoka Chapter IODE, Ponoka & District Retired Teachers’ Association, Ponoka Legion 55+, Ponoka United Church Women (avid knitter of Prayer Shawls), Alberta Northwest Conference UCW and Ponoka Drop-In Centre, where she enjoyed relaxing at her weekly game of cards – whist.

Mary was predeceased by her father Carl, mother Dorothy, and her three brothers: Oscar, Albert (and wife June), and Clifford.  She is survived by her sister-in-law Evelyn Stoltz; her five children: Marilyn, Glenn (Kim), Shelley (Stevhan), Valerie, and Bradley; her nine grandchildren: Norman (Chandra), Gillian, Alan, Kayden, Michelle, Kassandra, Amanda, Kyle, and Khrys; three great-grandchildren: Norah, Elara, and Eris; and numerous nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed by all.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Ponoka United Church on Friday, June 6, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. The church’s video livestream link is located below.

ln lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, Heart & Stroke Foundation, Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter, or to your favourite charity.

The family wish to thank all the staff at the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre and the home care workers from FCSS.

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