Gloria Jane Jones passed away Sunday evening June 28th at St. Louise Hospital in Gilroy, CA after suffering a hemorrhage stroke on April 1st. She was 86 years old. She was born in Los Angeles, and came to Hollister in January of 1997. She was born to Jack and Virginia Goodwin and attended high school in Los Angeles, received her degree from San Diego State University in Education and went on to earn her Masters Degree in Administration.
Gloria began her teaching career as a physical education instructor and counselor at John Muir Middle School in San Leandro, CA. She then went on to Pleasanton, CA where in 1966 she became a counselor at Amador Valley High School, and soon became the head counselor where teachers as well as students sought her out. In 1973, she was selected as the vice-principal of the brand new Foothill High School. She was the lead person and was actively involved in developing the culture of a student friendly environment wherein every student had an adult mentor. In 1975, the school district’s pupil services needed help and asked Gloria to provide the leadership to make this department more effective as the director of pupil services. In 1980, she became the director of adult education. Finishing up her storied career in education, Gloria created Village High School for the district, which was a pupil friendly continuation high school and is still going strong today…she was very proud of this accomplishment!
Gloria retired in 1984 to her three passions, her Morgan horses, her love of the Spanish language and her treasured roses.
Growing up Gloria was quite an athlete playing field hockey, tennis, golf and was a semi-pro softball player. She traveled the world with her late husband Lt. Commander Arthur W. Jones (passed away on February 18, 2008) as the Navy moved them around quite a bit until they settled in Diablo, CA in 1962.
Gloria had incredible energy and was no match to her age. She touched the lives of friends with her desire to please them and contribute in any way she could. She was always willing to forge forward with passion and hard work to accomplish whatever task in front of her and she would never quit.
Her love for her horses shined brightly as she volunteered countless hours to the American Morgan Horse Association, the American Morgan Horse Institute and the Morgan Grand National. She was honored by AMHA as the Woman of the Year in 1967 and 1992.
Gloria served on the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show Committee, twice serving as the Chairman of the Show Committee in 1989 and 1992. She put her heart and soul into Committee responsibilities, and spearheaded the elementary-level curriculum for the Oklahoma City school system based on the history of the Morgan breed. She also authored a manual of show policies and procedures, which was formally adopted in 1989.
Gloria fought hard for change as she led the campaign for the creation of two new divisions in the Morgan horse show world, adding the Hunter Pleasure and Classic Pleasure Saddle.
For the AMHA Youth Program, Gloria created a horsemanship program by writing the youth manuals, which inspired Morgan youth across the United States, Great Britain and South Africa.
She further assumed the responsibilities of a trustee of the American Morgan Horse Institute (AMHI) where she helped to develop and define a scholarship program for Morgan youths and chaired a committee of two new awards, the Morgan Connection Scholarship and the Graywood Scholarship Grant. The Morgan breed also benefited from Gloria’s wisdom, as she served on the rules committee for the USEF/AMHA as a catalyst for changes in judging standards.
Gloria is survived by her daughter Teresa Brennan and husband, Don, of Hollister, son Jeffrey Jones, wife, Trish, of Valley Springs, daughter Maria DeBenedetti, of San Ramon, CA, grandmother of Marissa Brennan, Brett Brennan, Ana Jones, Russell Jones, wife, Lori, and Jack DeBenedetti, also survived by a great granddaughter, Isabella Jones all residing in CA.
A mass of Christian burial will be offered on Monday, August 18th, 2008 at 11:00 A.M., at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 1200 Fairview Road, Hollister, with inturnment and committal services to follow at St. Benedict Columbarium.
Donations can be made to the American Morgan Horse Institute in memory of Gloria Jane Jones for the 2009 AMHI Gloria Jones Memorial Educational Youth Scholarship. Please send donations to: Barbara Young.
Development Officer, The American Morgan Horse Institute (AMHI), P.O. Box 837, Shelburne VT 05482: PH (802) 482-5438.
