Marie Jones was honored at the 2005 Montana Federation of Garden Clubs' Convention in Helena, Montana by being named "Garden Member of the Year". The application nominating Marie appears below.

This nominee for Garden Club Member of the Year is the most eligible candidate in the Montana Federation of Garden Clubs at the present time. She has for many years dedicated much time , interest, and energy to all aspects of our organization from local, State, Regional, and National positions. Our state membership has benefited tremendously from her efforts on our behalf.

This nominee has held all elected state vice-presidencies prior to that of State President from 1990-1993, the extra year resulting from the illness and death of her immediate predecessor. She holds membership in both the Montana and the National Life Members groups.

The prestigious position of Rocky Mountain Regional Director was filled for her by her election for the 2001-2003 term of office. She has continued to be on the National Garden Club Board as a member of the Grants Committee and will continue in that position for the 2005-2007 term of office.

This lady is a Master Flower Show Judge and as such donates an overwhelming amount of time in her town and throughout the state and region as a judge and chairman of schools and programs. Locally she is president of one garden club and continuous advisor to another club whom she helped to get a grant for establishing a nature trail with plant identification. Other grants were obtained and used for a labyrinth garden in a city park as well as plants for a handicapped-living facility. She herself maintains the latter. She also works with plantings at a Veterans Memorial Park and the Chamber of Commerce.

Our Master Gardener has been Assistant Editor of the Montana Gardens magazine from 1990-1996 as well as Advertising Chairman. She has also done significant work as the MFGC photographer.

She is a member of the MFGC Advisory Council and never hesitates to give help where needed on matters of policy and protocol when asked and where experience is invaluable. Her activities as a state fair exhibitor and entries assistant have covered at least fifteen years and now include being Superintendent of the Horticulture Department.

Since retiring from a full time job while her family was growing up, this amazingly hard working, likeable and very generous garden clubber has shared her plants, flowers, and knowledge on a weekly basis with her church where she not only provides weekly altar arrangements but also has assumed the task of caring for the outdoor plantings. In every respect this nominee is “garden club member of the year.”