Chere Elaine Jones

Chere Elaine Jones of San Antonio, Texas passed away on August 1, 2026 at the age of 78 after a lengthy illness. She was born on August 7, 1947 in San Antonio where she grew up and spent most of her life.

Her greatest source of pride was her family, particularly her husband, children, and grandchildren. She loved to talk about them and share stories - with them and about them. Chere always enjoyed spending time with friends and family. She was a true “people person” and could strike up a conversation with almost anyone. Her laughter was infectious! She also had a tremendous talent for facilitating others’ personal growth and served as a leader and mentor for many throughout her lifetime.

Chere studied Psychology at San Antonio College where she served as president of the Psychology Club. There, she met the love of her life, Roy. Chere and Roy celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary this past July. They were best friends with an enduring romance that continued to grow throughout their life together. For many, their relationship set the standard for building a successful foundation of love, mutual respect, and commitment.

Chere held great satisfaction from her career at the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (TDHHS) where she served her community for decades. She began as a typist, but through hard work and a drive for knowledge and personal growth, she advanced to worker, supervisor, and eventually retired as a Program Manager. Chere was particularly proud of her role in the strategic development and launch of the Regional Change Center that created a mechanism for telephonic reporting of changes impacting eligibility for social services. This initiative successfully eliminated the conventional requirement for in-person visits and mail-in documentation, significantly optimizing processing and improving compliance. She felt that her work with TDHHS provided an opportunity for her to advocate for economically disadvantaged and under-resourced groups.

Chere was interested in genealogy and celebrated her heritage as a descendant of the Canary Islander families who, in 1731, were commissioned by the King of Spain to colonize what is now known as the city of San Antonio. These settlers established both the first municipal government in Texas and the historic San Fernando Cathedral. Chere even served on the board of the Canary Islands Descendants Association for a time.

Chere liked to travel. She spent a lot of time in New Orleans with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed camping, in both a tent and later in an RV. Her preferred destinations were those with the best beaches and natural “swimming holes.” South Padre Island, Garner State Park, Landa Park, and Blue Hole were some of her favorite places. Additionally, Chere was an artist throughout her life, particularly oil painting and plaster work.

In her final years, her declining health limited most of the activities that she loved; however, she kept an active interest in government policies that impacted the equity and inclusion of marginalized groups. Chere was a fierce advocate and ally of the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout her lifetime, she also strongly supported women’s empowerment and gender equality, particularly in the workplace.

Chere was preceded in death by her grandmother, Margaret C. Evans; mother, June L. Matyear; father, John. W. Astry; brothers, Bill Evans; and Frank Astry

Chere is survived by her husband, Roy D. Jones; children, Tiffany (Eden) Lokey and Graham (Michelle Robert) Clarke; grandchildren, Ronin Lokey, Thea Lokey, and Seren Lokey; Siblings, Kevin Kinney, Karen Matyear, John Astry, and Julie Dabbs; nephew, Donald Williams IV; niece, Brittney Williams; and numerous additional beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Chere did not want a funeral or memorial service. Instead, the family will have a “Celebration of Life” gathering to honor her memory. Dates of this celebration will be shared in the near future once dates and plans are finalized.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to your favorite, non-political, charitable organization.