Julia Jones

Julia Elizabeth Thompson Jones passed peacefully in Cape Girardeau Monday, Aug. 9, 2021.

She was born Jan. 15, 1959, to Wayman "Tommy" and Marjorie Thompson in Cabool, Missouri. Julia was the third of four daughters.

She had recently retired from a wonderful career in public service as a parks and recreation professional for more than 40 years.

Julia spent most of her childhood growing up in Cape Coral, Florida, and graduated from Cypress Lake High School in Fort Myers, Florida. Her college career included her undergraduate degree in leisure services from Florida State University (Go Noles!) in Tallahassee, Florida, where she was recognized with the W.J. Tait Outstanding Undergraduate Award. Later in her career, she obtained her master's degree in public administration from the University of Central Florida.

Julia was passionate about her career and served many communities, including the City of Cape Coral, Florida; Collier County, Florida; City of Kissimmee, Florida; director of Osceola County Parks, Lakes and Natural Lands, Florida; parks and recreation manager of Seminole County, Florida; and lastly as parks and recreation director for the City of Cape Girardeau for 10 years, from which she retired in July 2021.

She also served her professional associations in Florida and Missouri, serving on numerous committees and as president of the Florida Recreation and Park Association, where she also received many recognitions including the Achievement Award and the Fellow Award. Julia also served on the Florida Trail Association Board of Directors, where she received the prestigious Cornelia Burge Award.

Her career in Cape Girardeau was blessed to have a wonderful staff and a supportive community that passed the parks, recreation and stormwater tax twice and kept the department busy building and operating many wonderful facilities for the Cape Girardeau community and surrounding region.

Julia taught as an adjunct professor at Southeast Missouri State University and served on the Missouri Parks and Recreation Association Hall of Fame Committee and Leadership Development Institute. She was a member of the Cape Girardeau Downtown Rotary Club and the University of Missouri Extension Services Board of Directors.

Julia met the love of her life, Judson Michael Jones, aka "Stray Dog," in 2004, and they were married in 2017 at the beach on Captiva Island, Florida.

Julia's other passions included the outdoors and equestrian pursuits. You could find her in the garden at Longview posting pictures on social media of the "Flower Parade," harvesting hot peppers and green beans for canning, or at a horse show with "Princess," paddling and camping in the Ozark Rivers with her husband or traveling around finding adventures. Julia's passion for Florida, though, never waned, and she loved both her Midwest and Southern roots.

Julia is survived by her husband, Mike, and three sisters, Nancy, Trisha and Lisa.

A celebration of life will be at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 24 at A.C. Brase Arena Building, 410 Kiwanis Drive in Cape Girardeau.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Foundation for the establishment of a commemorative plaque to be located at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be shared at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.