On Wednesday, March 24, 2021, Kathryn Jones Baxley passed away at the age of 73.
Service: A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at Four Mile Lutheran Church Cemetery in Mabank, Texas.
There will also be a Celebration of Life service held on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church Fort Worth.
Kathy was born in Dallas on December 22, 1947, to Howard and Ara (Wattner) Jones. She graduated valedictorian of her class from Mabank High School in 1966. Kathy received her undergraduate degree from University of North Texas, where she met her husband Bill. Kathy and Bill had a beautiful daughter, Carla Marie on November 12, 1975. After Bill’s death at age 33, Kathy went back to school to receive her master’s in library science from Texas Woman’s University and then became a librarian with Birdville ISD until her retirement.
Kathy was a woman of many hobbies and passions. In her adolescent years she was an active horsewoman and a talented pianist. She learned to drive only after marriage, in which she then raced sports cars along with her husband. At this same time, she developed a passion for growing orchids. Later in life, she was an avid collector of many things and enjoyed her reenactment group, where she was fondly known as Olga, the Chocolate Viking. However, orchids consistently remained her joy. She grew and studied orchids for her own knowledge, and she mentored many new and experienced orchid growers. She was a member of the Fort Worth Orchid Society, Greater North Texas Orchid Society (Dallas), American Orchid Society, Orchid Digest, and Southwest Regional Orchid Growers Association. She was president of the Fort Worth Orchid Society in 1985 and 1989. Kathy knew orchid growers all over the United States and other countries, and once, she and her daughter, Carla, visited Suriname with other orchid growers and guides.
For the last 21 years, her favorite name was “Grandma” to her three granddaughters. There was not a day that went by that she did not wish she could spend time with them. She had a special gift in giving undivided attention to each granddaughter whenever they were lucky enough to be with her. Her home was magical, and she always found creative ways to spend time with each of them. Her family and friends were always her priority, and Kathy made sure to stay in touch with everyone.
Kathy was preceded in death by her father, Howard, and mother, Ara; her husband, Bill and daughter, Carla.
Survivors: She is survived by her granddaughters Alexandra, Nola, and Annika, and their parents, Maren and Charlie Gibbs, all of Fort Worth; her brother, Howard Jones and his wife, Margaret of Mabank; nephew, Jason Jones and his wife, Catrina, of Crandall and their daughters, Hannah and Kate of Forney; niece, Jenny Alexander and her daughter, Karly of Crandall; and numerous Jones and Wattner cousins.
Memorials: Because Kathy was so dedicated to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden/Fort Worth Orchid Society (FWOS) Orchid Conservation Program, Kathy’s family asks, in lieu of flowers, please donate to the Orchid Conservation Program through the FWOS. Donations will go toward purchasing new orchid species. Make checks payable to Fort Worth Orchid Society and mail to:
Fort Worth Orchid Society
P.O. Box 470603
Fort Worth, TX 76147
Or use the Zelle app through your bank account:
- Send to the email of jimmorrisonj@yahoo.com.
- Type in the amount you want to donate and make sure to fill out the comment area with your name.