Mary Kathryn Katie (Bleakney) Jones

   Mary Kathryn “Katie” Jones, 90, of Newton, died Saturday, February 22, 2025, at MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, March 3, 2025, at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Newton.  The family will greet friends following the service and burial with a luncheon at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to the St. Luke United Methodist Women can be left at the church on the day of the service or at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton.

   Katie, the daughter of Ernest L. and Bessie M. (Preston) Bleakney, was born August 4, 1934, in Grinnell. Her family lived in Kellogg until 1941, when her family moved to Newton. Katie graduated from Newton High School in 1953 and then graduated from the Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in 1956.   On October 6, 1956, Katie was united in marriage with Harry Jones at the First United Methodist Church in Newton. She worked at Skiff Medical Center for 40 years, retiring in 1996. She had worked as a staff nurse, nurse supervisor, education director, and infection control specialist. Katie was a founding member of St. Luke United Methodist Church and was also a member of the St. Luke United Methodist Women, Bringing Up Mothers, and founding member of the Cardinal ’53 Club. Katie was also a member of the Jewel Box Quilt Guild in Grinnell. She did ministry outreach at the Mitchellville Women’s Prison for 20 years and found many opportunities to volunteer and serve her community.

   Katie is survived by her children, Chuck (Laura) Jones of New Virginia, Rob (Christy) Jones of Port Orchard, WA, and Susan (Randy) Edwards of Urbandale; her grandchildren: Alex Jones, Veronica (Kyle) McVay, Andrew (Alissa) Jones, Victoria (Michael) Zimmerman, Alisha Dittmer, Charles Van Der Woodsen (Zane), Olivia (Tanner) Hennings, and Christopher (Adriane) Jones; her great-grandchildren: Avery Jones, Maverick and Jettie McVay, Mason Jones, and Theo and Lincoln Zimmerman; her brother, John Bleakney (Shirley Crane); and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harry in 2010; her brother, Robert Bleakney; and her sisters-in-law, Karen Bleakney and Nicki Bleakney.

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