Marie Beth Jones

Born May 10, 1932, in Angleton, Texas, Marie Beth Jones passed away after complications from a brief illness on Jan. 22, 2024.

The only child of Elisabeth Fouche’ (d. 1953) and Teddy R. Carr, Sr. (d. 1977), Marie Beth grew up on a farm/ranch north of Angleton. She attended school and graduated from Angleton High School as Valedictorian in 1949. After high school she attended business school in Houston.

During a lengthy career that spanned more than 65 years, she worked as a newspaper reporter, editor, columnist, and author. For 20 years of that period, she also served as a public information officer for the Brazoria County government. Marie Beth wrote dozens of award-winning news and human-interest stories. Among her accomplishments were:

· Best non-fiction book manuscript in a competition sponsored by the Deep South Writers Conference

· An award from the Texas Historical Commission for Peach Point Plantation when it was originally published in 1982

· The Brazoria County Museum Catherine Munson Foster Memorial Award for Literature in 2007 at the Father of Texas Award Banquet

· The Citizen of the Year award by the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Assn. for all her crime-related coverage

A third-generation resident of Brazoria County, Marie Beth was intrigued with Texas history since early childhood. Her parents, who were both very interested in local history, took her to numerous historic spots in the area. Her favorite was the Gulf Prairie Cemetery, where Stephen F. Austin was originally buried. With both a father and a grandfather who delighted in telling stories about Brazoria County’s past, Marie Beth has always treasured the area’s rich history.

She has written four books, Peach Point Plantation, Tales from the Brazos, Trials and Tribulations, and The Brazos Beckoned: Tales from Brazoria County’s Past and has contributed to about 20 other books.

Following her employment as a newspaper editor and her employment with Brazoria County, she continued to write two weekly columns (Brazos Tales and Book Beat) for The Facts newspaper until shortly before her death.

Marie Beth previously served as Chairman of the Brazoria County Historical Commission for many years and was a Past-President of the Brazoria County Museum Board.

She also served on the Brazoria County Library Board, having been an avid reader.

She was predeceased by her parents Teddy R. and Elisabeth Fouche’ Carr and her husband of many years, Walter F. Jones.

Marie Beth is survived by her sons Gary (Sondra) Jones and Dick (Karen) Jones, daughter Kathy Jones, grandsons Stephen (Amelia) Jones of Lake Jackson, and Greg (Lisa) Jones of Katy and granddaughters Laura (Brent) Maddox of The Woodlands, Elizabeth (Andrew) Melton of Dallas, Christy Jones of Houston, and eleven very loved great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Stan Montgomery, Butch Flippo, Patrick Fuchs, Jeremy Anderson, Greg Jones and Stephen Jones.

Services are planned for Friday, January 26, 2024. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Following the service, interment will be at Angleton Cemetery.

In lieu of usual remembrances the family suggests donations to the Brazoria County Historical Museum.