Dr. Corinne Monk Jones was born in Nacogdoches, Texas, June 16, 1918, to Carl Edwin Monk and Louise Garrison Monk.
She had one brother, Carl Monk, Jr. Her earliest schooling was in the Teacher Training School at Stephen F. Austin State College (SFA), where she attended first and second grades. She went on to attend the Nacogdoches public schools and graduated from Nacogdoches High School in 1935. She remembered especially enjoying the math classes there.
Corinne early chose a career in medicine. After graduating from Stephen F. Austin State College in 1938 she attended the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston from 1938 to 1942, where she was one of only seven women in her class of 100.
In December of 1942 she married a fellow graduating medical school colleague, Roy Vane (R. V.) Jones, Jr., of Big Spring, Texas, a union of east and west Texas. From January to December 1943 both Corinne and R. V. interned at Jefferson Davis Hospital in Houston. While R. V. was in the Navy during 1944 and 1945, Corinne was college physician at Texas State College for Women in Denton, Texas. After release from the Navy, R. V. took a 3-year residency in gynecology and obstetrics in Houston while Corinne gave birth to their three sons, Frederick Eugene (Rick), Thomas Monk (Tom) and Robert Phelps (Bob). From 1951 to 1953 Corinne took a pediatric residency through Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. In 1953 she gave birth to her fourth child, Martha Vane, and entered private pediatric practice in Houston until her retirement in 1977.
While in private practice she was appointed to the clinical faculty of the Baylor College of Medicine at Houston. In the latter part of her career Corinne was appointed to the clinical faculty of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, and combined that position with the Baylor appointment and her private practice. As a member of the clinical faculty, she eventually became a full professor and then the senior pediatric clinician. Through these appointments Corinne contributed to the success of the next generation of pediatricians through her enthusiasm and expertise as a clinical professor. She simply loved her work and teaching.
After her retirement to Nacogdoches in 1977, not content to retire completely, Corinne practiced with SFA Student Health Service for a couple of years. She was a member of the Harris County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association and the American Medical Association. She served as president of the Houston chapter of the American Women’s Medical Association.
After final retirement she enjoyed her membership in the Cum Concilio Club and traveled extensively with R. V. throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe.
She is survived by her brother, Carl Monk, Jr., and all four of her children. There are now six grandchildren – Michael, Thomas, Ben, Caitlin, Sam and Rachel – and one great granddaughter, Merah.
Corinne was active in her church for many years – first at Christ Episcopal Church in Nacogdoches and then at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Houston. Upon her return to Nacogdoches, she was a member of the Vestry at Christ Church. Since moving to PineCrest Retirement Community in Lufkin in 2003, Corinne attended St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church. At PineCrest Corinne was a member of the Chapel Committee where she was responsible for coordinating some of the regular Sunday and Wednesday chapel services.
Donations may be made to the Carl Monk Jr. & Corinne Monk Jones Merit Scholarship Fund in Mathematics at Stephen F. Austin State University, or to a charitable organization of your choice.
A reception will be held at the Bailey House, Christ Episcopal Church, at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 28, 2011, followed by a funeral service at 2:30 p.m. at the church, located at 502 East Starr Avenue, Nacogdoches. A graveside service will immediately follow at Sunset Memorial Park.
Arrangements are under the direction of T.A. Lane and Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, located at 5400 North Street in Nacogdoches, Texas. Online guestbook posted and condolences accepted at www.casonmonk-metcalf.com.
