Betsy Easton Jones

Betsy Judith (Easton) Jones, 71, of Crystal River, FL and formerly a long-time resident of both Augusta and Martinez, GA, died Monday July 2, 2018, in Hospice House, Lecanto, FL, with her family at her side.

Betsy was born at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, DC, on November 5, 1946, daughter of the late Col. John J. Easton and Julia (Crawford) Easton. As the daughter of a career US Air Force officer, she moved frequently with her family and was educated at schools around the US and in what was then French Morocco. She graduated from Fort Hunt High School in Alexandria, VA, and then attended The Art Institute of Philadelphia.

Betsy had a diverse and interesting career. Naturally adventuresome, she undertook a number of different entrepreneurial occupations. Inherently friendly and outgoing, she enjoyed working as a bartender before longer careers in medical administration, real estate, and retail.

After working for a doctor, she decided to become licensed as an EMT. Later she and a partner began a business conducting employers' physical exams for life insurance companies. Betsy earned consistently high marks from the insurance companies for her thoroughness and quick turnarounds on her many assignments.

During her real estate career she was a real estate agent and also worked with her father managing several rental income properties throughout the Augusta area.

With a natural eye for jewelry and antiques, Betsy and a partner founded and ran a jewelry and antiques store for many years in Augusta, prior to her retiring to Crystal River.

Betsy is survived by her devoted husband of 26 years, Cary L. Jones; her stepchildren Kari Sue Arcand and husband Bill, Cary Jones, Jr. (Rusty) and wife Kathy, Maynette Jones, and Jeannie Armstrong and husband Tyji; as well as 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, who affectionately called her either Mom or Grandma Betsy. Also surviving Betsy are her loving brother, John J. Easton, Jr., and his wife Donna of Timonium, MD.

The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice House in Lecanto, FL, for their kind and professional care. Cremation services will be handled by Strickland Funeral Home in Crystal River, FL, and a private memorial will be held at a later date.

Donations in Betsy's name may be made to Hospice of Citrus and the Nature Coast, P.O. Box 641270, Beverly Hills, FL 34464, www.hospiceofcitrus.org or to Humane Society of Citrus County FL, Inc., PO Box 2283, Inverness, FL 34451, www.humanesocietycitrus.com