Mariana Wilson Jones

Mariana Wilson Jones, age 91, entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on May 30, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Her passing leaves a profound void, but her family rejoices in the comfort of her eternal assurance and the memory of the numerous lives she touched through her teaching and tireless service.

Mariana was born in Coleman, Texas in May 1935. She was the second oldest of Charles and Rosa Wilson’s five children. Charlie Wilson was the proprietor of Wilson Grain Company and served as mayor of Coleman in the 1940s. Mariana began taking dance lessons with her sisters at an early age, and dancing soon became a lifelong passion. Mariana and her two oldest sisters, Rosalyn and Marlene, were often asked to dance at special events around Coleman County, and Mariana loved every opportunity to perform.

Mariana attended Coleman schools from kindergarten through her senior year. She loved CHS and always kept the Bluecats close to her heart. She was the drum major for the Coleman Bluecat marching band and one of the first students to dress up as the Bluecat mascot for school spirit events. She also danced throughout high school and performed in numerous school plays and dance productions. Although her father died of cancer when she was still in high school, Mariana possessed a cheerful spirit and can-do attitude that she maintained throughout her life.

Mariana attended Texas Tech University, where she immersed herself in dance and play productions and numerous other student activities. Mariana was selected to “Who’s Who” and Mortar Board at Tech, and her senior year she was elected “Woman of the Year” by her fellow Tech students. After studying dance in New York City, Mariana earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Texas with a focus on dance. While in Austin, she became reacquainted with a Tech classmate, Ross Jones, who was attending UT Law School. Mariana and Ross were married in Coleman but soon moved to Florida where Ross was a Judge Advocate General in the rocket program at Patrick Air Force Base. Three children and stops in France and Germany quickly followed. The Joneses then returned to Florida, where Ross worked in the Apollo program for NASA.

In late 1969, the Jones family moved to Coleman, and Mariana wasted no time becoming active in her hometown. Her first project was creating and organizing the “Summer Recreation Program” for Coleman County youth. She worked tirelessly to solicit and coordinate volunteers and help raise the funds necessary to implement the program’s various activities, which included tennis, basketball, track, twirling, softball, swimming, and arts and crafts. Swimming lessons, the largest component of the program, grew to have over 300 participants annually. Mariana helped coordinate a life-saving course for more experienced swimmers, who would then go on to teach swimming lessons themselves. In 1971, the Texas Recreation and Parks Society awarded Mariana its annual “Certificate of Achievement” for her work on the Summer Recreation Program. The award recognizes a Texas resident who “contributes to the fulfillment and enrichment of the Parks and Recreation concept” in the State of Texas.

Mariana maintained her passion for dance and in 1971 she opened the Mariana Jones School of Dance in Coleman. Her classes were well attended, and the annual dance recitals were large productions that drew hundreds of attendees. As a tennis enthusiast, Mariana helped organize local tennis tournaments for county residents, and she worked diligently with the city to help raise funds to build new tennis courts at Coleman City Park in 1976. Mariana was also instrumental in helping the City of Coleman secure the funding for a new city pool, which opened in the city park in June 1979.

Mariana was active in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Coleman, and her relationship with the St. Mark’s family was cherished throughout her life. She was the spur for creating the Tri-Church living nativity scene, which was displayed each December on Commercial Avenue in front of the First Christian Church. In addition to all of her other activities, Mariana served as a director of the Coleman Chamber of Commerce, a coordinator for the “Miss Coleman County” Beauty Pageant, and a director of the Coleman Community Center. In 1977, Mariana was named “Outstanding Citizen” in Coleman for her various contributions to the people and city of Coleman.

In 1979, Mariana continued her passion for dancing and teaching by founding the Coleman High School drill team. The drill team provided an opportunity for many high school girls to participate and contribute to the spirit of the school, and Mariana worked passionately and tirelessly on their various programs and routines. The drill team soon began competing statewide and received numerous accolades and awards. Mariana, who taught English at CHS, also planned and directed the drill team’s annual musicals, which garnered both significant participation from the student body and an enthusiastic response from the local community. True to her nature, Mariana even danced in one of the musicals herself!

In late 1984, Mariana moved to Austin. Newly single, Mariana remained radiantly positive and energetic. She taught English and drama at Hyde Park Christian and later West Ridge Middle School. In addition to becoming an active member in St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Mariana had numerous hobbies and activities that kept her busy—including serving as a tour guide for the City of Austin, a judge for Baylor’s annual “All-University Sing” competition, an actor in local stage productions, and a program leader for theatre student field trips to New York City.

Mariana retired from teaching in 2004 but continued to live with energy and purpose. Even after a Parkinson’s diagnosis, she maintained her joyful spirit and positive attitude. In 2022, she was thrilled to return to Coleman for induction into the Coleman ISD Hall of Honor. The Hall of Honor recognizes members of the Coleman ISD family whose “life achievements have brought honor and value to the district.”

Mariana’s greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who made every event more fun. Since childhood, Mariana had an enduring love for the saddle, and she enjoyed raising horses in Coleman and riding with her children and their friends. She also delighted in traveling with her family and relished new destinations and adventures. After her move to Austin, she loved to lead her grandchildren on hiking and spelunking adventures, excursions to Zilker Park, and trips to her new favorite swimming hole. Not surprisingly, Mariana loved staging family shows in her home, complete with makeup, costumes, and speaking roles for each of the grandchildren—even for the littlest “actors.”

Mariana is survived by her four siblings, Rosalyn Wilson, Marlene Tyson (and husband, John), Ryall Wilson (and wife, Diane), and Carol Scott (and husband, Terry), as well as her three children, Bradley Jones (and wife, Sharon), Amy Norton (and husband, David), and Wilson Jones (and wife, Lendy). She is also survived by twelve loving grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mariana lived life to the fullest with joy, enthusiasm, and a sense of wonder that was instilled in her children and grandchildren. Although she will be deeply missed, her legacy will live on in the faith she passed to future generations, the community she helped strengthen, and the countless children she taught with great dedication and delight. Her family finds comfort knowing she has been reunited with loved ones who went before her and now rests in the eternal peace promised by her Savior.

A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026 at Stevens Funeral Home, 400 W. Pecan Street in Coleman. A service in celebration of Mariana’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Coleman United Christian & Presbyterian Church, 1609 Commercial Avenue, with a gravesite service following at Coleman City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Coleman County Foundation, reflecting Mariana’s commitment to serving others in the Coleman community.