Garna Jane Jones

Longtime Auburn resident, Garna Jane Jones, 66, died October 22, 2010, at her Auburn home. She was born Garna Botting on April 24, 1944, at Maynard Hospital in Seattle, to David A. and Ruby Senn Botting. Her baby picture hung in a local photography studio window and was labeled as “Auburn’s cutest baby.”Garna grew up with her three sisters in the home her father built in Auburn. She attended Washington Elementary School and Cascade Junior High. She was involved in the Girl Scouts with troop leader Polly Dyer, was a member of the Rainbow Girls where she achieved the level of Worthy Advisor, and was also part of a singing trio called the Nonettes with her two dear friends, Jan (Cornwell) Cavanaugh and Ann (Thompson) O’Brien. The Botting family home was a frequent social gathering spot during her and her sisters’ junior high and high school years. Garna attended Auburn High School where she was very involved in school activities including Pep Club, Girl’s Club Vice President, the Green Peppers and being a song leader. She graduated from AHS in 1962. She then attended the University of Puget Sound where she joined the sorority Alpha Phi. Garna married her high school classmate, LeRoy Jones, on September 11, 1965.In 1972, after her mother passed away, Garna and LeRoy moved back into the family home and raised their three children. During this time she taught preschool at the Messiah Lutheran Church, and was active in PTA. Garna took over the family dahlia business when her father passed away in 2000 under the name Fourth Street Blooms. Her flowers graced many tables, inspired many pictures, and were a big part of her family’s life for years.During her lifetime, Garna was active in many groups and organizations including the Auburn City Planning Commission, from 1983 until 2004, and the Urban Tree Board in 2004. She was also active in G.N. PEO, the Soroptomists Auburn chapter, the Dr. Frank D. Merritt Guild of Children’s Hospital, and the Auburn First United Methodist Church.Garna is survived by her husband, LeRoy Jones; her three children, Shelley (Robb) Powers of Lake Tapps, Shannon (Grant) Slish of Buckley, and Brent (Amy) Jones of Seattle; her four grandchildren, Alexis, Evan, Ruby, and Bennett; her three sisters, Myrna (John) Anderson of Sumner, Lois (Roger) Brown of Phoenix, and Mary (Robert) Wark of Raft Island, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, many who live locally. A memorial service for Garna will be held at the Auburn First United Methodist Church on Friday, November 5, 2010 at 1:30 p.m.In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation; PO Box 5371 / S-200, Seattle, WA 98145-5005.