Helen Louise Jones

Helen Louise Jones, 88, passed on May 27th, 2026, in Ellensburg, Washington. Helen was born in San Francisco, California, February 25th, 1938, to Lyman E. Brewer and Helen E. Brewer (Goldthwaite). She graduated from San Francisco’s Lowell High School and then the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Philosophy and Psychology. She then attended Stanford University, graduating in 1962 with a master’s in education. While at Stanford she met and married her husband of 65 years Courtney. They had three sons, Courtney Jr, Evan and Carleton (Buck).

Helen was a lifelong artist working in many forms, most notably the fiber arts. Over her pursuit of art, she knitted (most notably mittens culminating in a headline show at Ellensburg Gallery One). She also knitted vests and handbags. In earlier years she did painting, drawing, weaving, needle point, embroidery, tapestry, rug making, crocheting and others. In her youth she did Modern Dance, Girl Scouts and played the piano.

She enjoyed camping, sports, both watching and participating, crossword puzzles, scrabble, opera, fine wine and cuisine, studying philosophy. She loved the family golden retriever and a feisty orange male cat. She participated in the Spokane Bloomsday 12K and the Port Townsend running races.

She devoted her life to caring for her husband and three sons and following the sporting and other activities of her seven terrific grandchildren.

She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, sons Courtney Jr (recently retired from NC Power systems, Amy), Evan (teaches in the Yakima SD, Kim, children, Camden, Pierson, Quinten and Merry-Margaret) and Buck (on the faculty at Midwestern University Glendale, AZ, Bucky, children, Carmen, Miles and Lucas ).