Maria Elisabeth "Marlis" Jones

1929 - 2025

Maria Elisabeth "Marlis" (Zech) Jones

December 31, 1929 - October 31, 2025

Columbus, Georgia - Maria Elisabeth "Marlis" (Zech) Jones passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 31, 2025, at St. Francis Hospital in Columbus, Georgia. She was 95 years old.

Born on December 31, 1929, in Würzburg, Unterfranken, Bavaria, Germany, Marlis was the daughter of Karl Georg Zech Sr. and Martha (Christ) Zech. She married John David (JD) Jones on January 25, 1952, in Gießen, Hessen, Germany, and together they built a life filled with love and devotion.

After coming to the United States, Marlis and John made their home in Columbus, Georgia, where she worked for several years as a sales associate with Sears. She was a longtime member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and drew strength and comfort from her faith.

She enjoyed crocheting, working puzzles, and reading, but what truly defined her was her love for her family. She was happiest when doing small, thoughtful things for those she loved or simply spending time with them whenever she could.

She was preceded in death by her husband, JD; her brother, Karl Zech of Florida; and her sister, Waltraud Dechant of Germany. She is survived by her son, Arlen Jones, and his wife, Paula, of Arizona; her sister-in-law, Margaret Zech; nephews Michael Zech (Ruth) and Uwe Dechant (Anja); niece Petra Ziedler (Peter); as well as several grand-nieces and great-grand-nieces and nephews.