Patricia Mae Jones

     Patricia Mae (Garcia) Jones, age 86, of Long Beach, passed away peacefully, on May 29,2024, at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport. Patricia was born June 30, 1937, in Carmel, CA. She was the daughter of Joseph and Dorothy Garcia.  Her friends, players, and students knew her as Pat, PJ, Coach Jones, Jonesy, and Ms. Jones.

     Pat started working at Head Start in 1972 as a bus driver. Through hard work and dedication, she worked her way up to being a teacher. She went to college at the age of 60, because she wanted to prove you are never too old to get a college degree. Her children were so proud of her just as much as she was proud of herself. She had not even finished high school but wanted to prove anything is achievable.

     Teaching was Pat's daytime job. After work, you could find her at the softball/baseball fields supporting her kids in any sport they played. She eventually moved on to coach the "Sluggers" softball team, and work in the concession stand. When she could no longer coach, she became an official scorekeeper. To honor the countless hours Coach Pat Jones dedicated to the Long Beach Girls Softball League, the league honored her by naming one of the fields after her, Pat Jones Field. Our family would like to thank the late Mrs. Marge Taylor for getting her involved in softball.

After her ball-field days, she began spending more time with her best friends, such as Debbie Helton and Ms. Ann Thompson. The family would like to thank Debbie for always being there for her. They played cards, went to the movies, ate at her favorite restaurants, and spent countless hours at the Long Beach Senior Center. Thanks to her sister-in-law, Melissa Jones for helping and always being there for "Auntie".

   Patricia was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Dorothy Garcia; her grandson, Derek Gentile; her brother, Richard Garcia & his wife, Irma; stepmother, Dorothy Garcia (same name as her mother); a stepbrother, James Anastasi. Others preceding her in death are, ex-husband, James Jones; his brothers, Jack, Texas Vernon "Junior", and Tommy; sisters-in-law, Patricia Jones, Barbara Jones, Glenda Wilson; brother-in-law, Johnny Wilson; niece and Godchild, Sandra Reynolds; and two nephews, Jimmy Jones and Wes Jones.

     Patricia is survived by son, Gary Garcia (Laura); son, Kenny Jones; daughter, Donna Gentile (Jimmy); son, Raymond Jones (Aliska); grandchildren, Philip Garcia (Erika), Nikki Garcia (Israel), Nikki Thomas (Skyler), Jarrod Gentile (Tymber), Trevor Jones (Marian), Payton Jones (Ashley), and Hunter Jones (Taylor); great grandchildren, Jerimiah, Suzie, Camden, Sophia, Chloe, and one on the way, Logan; stepsister, Rayjean; sister, Carol Martin, and brother, Robert Garcia. There were many others in Long Beach that called her granny but too many to mention.

Visitation will be on Monday, June 3, 2024, from 9 - 11 am at the Riemann Family Funeral Home, 19130 Commission Road, Long Beach. The funeral service will be at 11 am Monday in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be in Gulf Pines Memorial Gardens.