Earlier today, 19 May 2011, the following message was posted to the Facebook account of artist Jeffrey Catherine Jones:
JEFFREY CATHERINE JONES passed away today, Thursday May 19, 2011 at 4:00 am surrounded by family. Jeffrey suffered from severe emphysema and bronchitis as well as hardening of the arteries around the heart. Jeffrey’s dear friend Robert Wiener reported that there was a no resuscitation order as Jeffrey was weak from from being severely under weight and had no reserves with which to fight. In accord with Jeffrey’s wishes Jeffrey will be cremated. We have yet to hear details for a memorial service. Jeffrey was one of the greatest talents and sweetest souls we have ever been blessed to know. Rest in Peace, dear friend.
I don’t know what to say…
“Every work, hopefully, will leave me unsatisfied. This drives me on to the next one. As soon as I think I’ve done something great it’ll all be over. And I’m not sure I believe in talent, either.”
— Jeffrey Catherine Jones
FORMAL OBITUARIES:
The Beat > RIP: Jeffrey Catherine Jones by Heidi MacDonald
The Comics Journal > Jeffrey Catherine Jones: A Life Lived Deeply by Steven Ringgenberg
The Comics Reporter > Jeffrey Catherine Jones, 1944-2011 by Tom Spurgeon — this is by far the most comprehensive and substantial of the formal obituaries that have been posted so far.
Dr Hermes MORE RETRO-SCANS > Jeffrey Catherine Jones 1944-2011 by Dr Hermes — obituary scanned from the Kingston Daily Freeman.
io9 > R.I.P. Jeffrey Catherine Jones, One of Fantasy’s Greatest Artists by Charlie Jane Anders
Ladies Making Comics > ProFile Friday: Jeffrey Catherine Jones (January 10, 1944 – May 19, 2011)
Legacy.com > Jeffrey Catherine Jones and Guestbook (online until 5/23/2012)
MURMURS > Jeff Jones: 1944-2011 by George Pratt — not a formal obituary, but a lovely and moving remembrance by a respected artist who, when he was just starting out, looked up to Jones as a role model and possible mentor but was quickly embraced by him as a colleague and a friend; what’s more, the piece is illustrated with examples of work by Jones from Pratt’s personal art collection as well as illuminating, hearbreaking documentary photographs both of a very frail looking Jones as she was nearing the end of her life and of various locations, both interiors and exteriors, where she worked and lived.
Locus Online > Jeffrey Catherine Jones (1944-2011)
Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home > Obituaries: Jeffrey Catherine Jones — this obituary has been picked up by both Legacy.com and Tributes.com (links below).
Jeffrey Catherine Jones, celebrated artist whose work is best known from the late 1960s through 2000s was born Jeffrey Durwood Jones, in Atlanta, Georgia and died May 19, 2011 at home at the age of 67.
Jones moved to New York City in 1967, and rapidly developed a reputation as an exquisite illustrator and graphic artist, painting over 150 book covers and creating the full-page comic strips Idyl for National Lampoon Magazine and I’m Age for Heavy Metal.
In the 1976, Jones joined Michael Kaluta, Berni Wrightson, and Barry Windsor-Smith in The Studio, a group of artists who helped redefine modern book and comic book illustration. In 1976 Jones was awarded the Yellow Kid award from the Italian International Comics and Cartooning Exhibition. By 1986, when Jones received the World Fantasy Award in Art for Best Artist, he had moved away from commercial art to pursue fine art painting. Jones most recently received the Spectrum 2006 Grand Master Award.
Jones has been called a genius whose works appeared both effortless in execution and blinding in their beauty. World-renowned illustrator Frank Frazetta called him “the greatest living painter”.
Jones began gender reassignment therapy in 1998 after which Jones lived as Jeffrey Catherine Jones. Her studio was in the Catskill Mountains where she painted local landscapes. She continued drawing until her death.
Jones’ work has been in continuous publication and her work is shown and enjoyed around the world. The documentary Better Things: Life & Choices of Jeffrey Jones is in production from Macab Films. She is survived by her daughter Julianna Jones Muth, and three grandchildren, Nikolai Muth, Adelaine Muth, and Merryn Arms.
A memorial to celebrate Jones life and recognize her death, will be held on Friday, May 27th, from 6-9pm at Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Hero Initiative, 11301 Olympic Blvd., #587, Los Angeles, CA 90064.
SEND CONDOLENCES TO C.J.’s FAMILY:
Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home > View Guestbook – Sign Guestbook — this and the Tributes.com guestbook appear to share the same database.
Tributes.com > Jeffrey Catherine Jones
Jeffrey Catherine Jones, formerly of the Washington Manor, died Thursday, May 19, 2011 at Chiz’s Heart Street in Kingston. She was 67.
Legacy.com > Jeffrey Catherine Jones: Guestbook (online until 5/23/2012)
VISITATION AND FUNERAL SERVICE INFORMATION FROM TRIBUTES.COM:
Visitation
Thursday May 26
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Simpson – Gaus Funeral Home
411 Albany Avenue
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 331-0631Funeral Service
Friday May 27
8:00 PM
Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home
411 Albany Ave.
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 331-0631Click here to check for possible updates.
Spasm | Idyl | I’m Age | Jones Touch | Covers
[BTW, there’s plenty more by Jones here at RCN, if you’ll take a moment to click around.]
NOTICES AND TRIBUTES:
Aphelis Reloaded > Jeffrey Catherine Jones, American Painter and Illustrator (1944-2011) by Philippe Theophanidis
The Art of Pierangelo Boog > Catherine Jeffrey Jones 1944 – 2011 (May 19) (in German) by Pierangelo Boog
Barking Book Reviews: Obituary: Jeffrey Catherine Jones by Jeff
BDzoom.com > COMIC BOOK HEBDO : Adieu, Jeffrey Catherine Jones… (in French) by Cecil McKINLEY — click here for Google translation to English.
The Beat > Bode and O’Barr remember Jeffrey Catherine Jones with a mural
The Beat > Jeffrey Catherine Jones: “The fear has left me”
Blue Moon Rising > Jeffrey Catherine Jones Remembered by Jeffrey A. Jones
Le blog de Li-An > Disparition de Jeffrey Catherine Jones (in French) by Li-An
Boing Boing > RIP Jeffrey Jones by Mark Frauenfelder
Booksteve’s Library > R.I.P.– Jeffrey Catherine Jones by Steven Thompson — presenting “Death,” a short comics story by Jeffrey Catherine Jones.
Boston Book Bums > Covering a Passing: Jeffrey Catherine Jones
Brix Pics > Style Icons: Female »Jeffrey Catherine Jones, Legendary Fantasy Artist by Brittany Hague
Burning Monster > Jeffrey Catherine Jones by Richard Pace
Catzy Munster’s Art Talk > Jeffrey Catherine Jones (1944 – 2011) (in Norwegian) by Catzy Munster
CBR > R.I.P. Fantasy & Comics Artist Jeffrey Catherine Jones by Kiel Phegley
Cerebus the Original Aartvark > May 20, 2011 Jeffrey Catherine Jones (1944-2011) by Brian P. Coppola
Char Reed > Jeffrey Catherine Jones… by Char Reed
Comic Art Fans > Comic Art News: RIP: Jeffrey Catherine Jones 1944-2011 — this short notice includes the following message from Jeffrey’s wife:
At 4 a.m., Jeffrey Catherine Jones passed from this life. She was cared for during last days and hours by her daughter, Julianna Jones Muth, and Mary Chiz Chisholm. More info on memorial plans will appear as they become known. Rest in peace and in the arms of your loving Higher Power, CJ.
With my love, Maryellen McMurray Jones.
ComicMix > Jeffrey Catherine Jones, 1944 – 2011 by Mike Gold
Comic Book Brain > Jeffrey Catherine Jones has died
Comic Box > Disparition de Jeff Jones (in French)
Comics Kong > RIP Fantasy & Comics Artist Jeffrey Catherine Jones by admin
ConceptArt.org Forums > Jeffrey Catherine Jones has passed away — topic started by Richard Pace.
CS5Design.com > Jeffrey Catherine Jones, 1944-2011 by Richard Holbrook
Daily Kos > Jeffery Catherine Jones, Illustrator: 1944-2011 by Kurt “quarkstomper” Wilcken
DARAF’s Daily Doodles > R.I.P. Jeffrey Catherine Jones (January 10, 1944 – May 19, 2011) by Rafael Rivera
Dark Worlds > CATHERINE JEFFREY JONES – January 10, 1944 – May 19, 2011 — a few images, a couple of sentences…
Dear Sweet Filthy World > R.I.P. Jeffrey Catherine Jones (1944-2011) by “a construct sometimes known as Caitlín R. Kiernan”
Drawn to Distraction > Jeffrey Jones 1944-2011 by Kevin Parks
Entrecomics > Fallece Jeff Jones (in Spanish) by El tio berni
Everyone’s Wrong and I’m Right > Jeffrey Catherine Jones and Dave Cockrum Speaks from Beyond by Clifford Meth — I’ve included the second link because in it Meth reveals the following bit of news that I think will be of interest to Jones fans:
We were working on a book together for better than four years now called Silent Light (Jeff chose the title), which I now feel obliged to finish more quickly. I also suppose we’ll find some worthy cause to benefit from this book’s publication because now it will disturb me to make any money from this project in Jeff’s absence. Jeff already created and signed several hundred tip-in sheets for it; Michael Netzer, our mutual friend, offered more than a year ago to write the introduction.
{ feuilleton } > Jeffrey Catherine Jones, 1944–2011 by John Coulthart
The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log > RIP, Jeffrey Catherine Jones by Joe Gordon — a small selection of images, a few sentences…
Four-Color Shadows > Fourteen Months-Jeffrey Catherine Jones-1971, posted by by Steven Thompson — in tribute to C.J., here’s “a brief DC tale from 1971 scripted by Gerry Conway.”
Frankensteinia > The Art of Frankenstein : Jeffrey Catherine Jones (1944-2011)
Galway Pub Scrawl > RIP Jeffrey Catherine Jones. Next Pub Scrawl – Monday 30th. by donalfall
A Gender Variance Who’s Who > Catherine Jones (1944 – 2011) artist. by Zagria
The Giggaheim > Passings: Jeffrey Catherine Jones by Peter Schmeiser, Giggaheim Director
Golden Age Comic Book Stories > Jeffrey Jones: January 10, 1944 ~ May 19, 2011 — Thanks for all the beautiful art! by Mr. Door Tree — if you’re looking for scans of work by Jones, Mr. Door Tree’s site is the place to start.
Hill Cantons > Jeffery Jones Has Passed and Jeff Jones Covers
The Hooded Utilitarian > Jeffrey Catherine Jones: The Good Draftsman by Mahendra Singh
ICv2 > Fantasy Artist Jeffrey Jones Dead at 67: Influential Member of “The Studio”
Illustration Art > JEFFREY CATHERINE JONES (1944-2011) by David Apatoff
IMDb > Jeffrey Catherine Jones, 1944 – 2011 by Mike Gold
The Johnny Bacardi Show > RIP Jeffrey Catherine Jones by Johnny B.
lines and colors > Jeffrey Catherine Jones, 1944-2011 by Charley Parker
Little by Little(hales) > Jeffrey Catherine Jones: January 10, 1944 – May 19, 2011 by Brett Littlehales
@macabfilms > It is with much sadness… by Maria Cabardo, director of Better Things, the forthcoming documentary on the art and choices of Jeffrey Catherine Jones — Maria seems to have been the first person to make the news public.
MaCab Films Presents > From our friend, Jeffrey Catherine Jones…who will miss us all, by Maria Cabardo
mardecortesbaja.com > JEFFREY JONES by Lloyd Fonvielle
Michael Netzer Online Portal > Have Peace, Jeffrey Catherine Jones 1944-2011 — Netzer pays tribute to Jones with a stylish portrait of the artist.
Michael Netzer Online Portal > Woman in the Man: The Many Gifts of Jeffrey Catherine Jones by Michael Netzer — first the portrait and then a lengthy personal reminiscence. Now THAT is what I call a proper tribute; well done, sir.
MTV.com > R.I.P. Jeffrey Catherine Jones, ‘Bridesmaids’ Reactions, And The Rapture In Today’s Twitter Report by Brian Warmoth
MTV Geek > R.I.P. Artist and Illustrator Jeffrey Catherine Jones by Charles Webb
Muddy Colors > Spotlight On: JEFFREY CATHERINE JONES — nice selection of images here, and an interesting comment in the discussion section, viz.:
Arnie Fenner said…
Anonymous–
I never knew how to properly refer to Jeff after the last hormone treatments (which he had first experimented with back in the ’70s with Bodé) and the adoption of the “Catherine” name. Jeff never had a sex-change operation (and said he had no intentions of having one) and never legally changed his name, so I was flummoxed as to what to call him in e-mails or conversation or when writing about him…so I directly asked him years ago around the time that we were working on the second of two books we did with him. He told me to call him “Jeff” or “Jeffrey” and since the law considered him a man, it was perfectly fine with him if I did, too. So I have always said “him” and “he” while others might say “her” and “she.” Mike Kaluta, his oldest friend, also refers to Jeffrey as “he” and I would challenge anyone who says that Mike didn’t respect (and love) Jeff.
We had asked Jeff how he wanted his nameplate to read on his Spectrum Grand Master Award and it says, per his instructions, “Jeffrey Jones”.
So…there’s no disrespect shown or intended.
May 19, 2011 1:49 PM
News from Me > Jeffrey Catherine Jones, R.I.P. by Mark Evanier
Nuts & Bolts: A Project to End Transmisogyny > Time to Remember Jeffrey Catherine Jones by nutsandboltsoftrans
The Phil Nugent Experience > Jeffrey Catherine Jones, 1944-2011 by Phil Nugent
NY Figure Drawing (Summer Sketch) > RIP Jeff Catherine Jones by Jeff
Port Out, Starboard Home > Yesterday’s Lily: Jeffrey Catherine Jones 1944 – 2011 by Aly Fell — includes scans of an interview with Jones that was originally published in Heavy Metal Magazine.
Queerty > Trans Sci-Fi Artist Jeffrey Catherine Jones Dies, But Her Awesome Work Lives On by Daniel Villarreal
Ramblin’ with Roger > Jeffrey Catherine Jones by Roger Green
Ray-Mel Cornelius > Jeffrey Catherine Jones, 1944 – 2011
REH: Two-Gun Raconteur > Jeffrey Catherine Jones 1944-2011 by Brian Leno
recordonline.com > Fantasy illustrator Jeffrey Catherine Jones dies in Kingston by Deborah Medenbach
Rob Pistella’s Comic Art Gallery Room > Jeffrey Jones, 1944-2011 and Jeffrey Jones some last photos
Ryalltime Blog > A visual tribute to Jeffrey Catherine Jones by Chris Ryall, IDW Publishing’s Publisher/Editor-in-Chief — includes the title page and 15 double-page spreads from the recently published book, Jeffrey Jones: A Life in Art.
ScottEdelman.com > Jeffrey Catherine Jones 1944–2011 by Scott Edelman
A Shroud of Thoughts > Jeffrey Catherine Jones R.I.P. by Mercurie
SiDEBAR > Podcast Episode 155: A Discussion on the Life, Art and Recent Passing of JEFFREY CATHERINE JONES (1944 – 2011), hosted by DWiGHT, SWAiN, and ADRiAN
Singular Points > Jeffrey Catherine Jones 1944-2011 by Charles R. Rutledge
Spectrum Fantastic Art > JEFFREY JONES (1947-2011) by Arnie Fenner
Speech Balloons > Jeffrey Catherine Jones R.I.P. by Paul Birch
Stevefah’s Electric Blog > In Memoriam: Jeffrey Catherine Jones, 1944-2011 by Steve Fahnestalk
Super I.T.C.H. > Jeffrey Catherine Jones–R.I.P. by Steven Thompson — a small gallery of covers.
Thurman’s Notebook > A Great Light Has Gone Out From Among Us by Thurman Hubbard
tor.com > Jeffrey Catherine Jones 1944-2011 by Gregory Manchess
Trosper and Ignatz Meet Gentle Giant > A memory and a reflection: Jeffrey Catherine Jones, 1944- 2011 by Diana Green
Ty Templeton’s Art Land > Jeffrey Catherine Jones RIP by Ty Templeton
UI AR DE JAPIS > Jeff Jones, Jeffrey Catherine Jones. 1944-2011. (in Spanish)
Vanguard Productions > RIP Jeffrey Catherine Jones by J. David Spurlock
The Warlock’s Home Brew > Fantasy Artist Jeffrey Catherine Jones 1944-2011
Wednesday’s Heroes > Jeffrey Catherine Jones…Creative Spirit, Artistic Soul by Mike Pascale — a longish reflection on the ideas, character, and art of Jeffrey Catherine Jones.
The Wonder Cabinet > Jeffrey Catherine Jones by James Owen
The ZehnKatzen Times > [art] RIP Jeffrey Catherine Jones, Renowned Fantasy Artist by Samuel John Klein Portlandiensis
UPDATE (05 July 2011):
Cheryl’s Mewsings > Revisiting Jeffrey Catherine Jones (mirror) by Cheryl Morgan. Morgan’s complex, sensitive, and respectful personal reflection on the special difficulties of late-life gender transition illuminates Jones’s life and choices in a way that other, more polarized online comments have not. The article begins as follows:
The July Locus contains a couple of obituaries for the trans artist, Jeffrey Catherine Jones, who I wrote about briefly here. Both authors (Arnie Fenner and Robert K. Wiener) were good friends of the deceased; both consistently use the name “Jeff”, and both consistently use male pronouns. I am not, however, going to get ranty about this. After all, these articles have been written by people very close to Jones, someone I have never even met. I have no idea what the truth of the matter is. I do, however, think it is necessary to address the issue. It is human nature to assume that high profile members of a minority group are typical of that group, and reading the two obituaries people could easily come away with the idea that most trans people are tragic, crazy, and will come to regret their transition.
I’d like to state from the start that there’s nothing wrong with someone turning back from transition. There can and should always be an exit route, up until the point that the person concerned is convinced that what they are doing is right for them. Doctors and psychiatrists who encourage transition in the expectation of fees are just as culpable as those who peddle aversion cures. It is perfectly possible for trans people to find equilibrium and happiness without full transition, and if that’s what works for them we should support it. But equally there are reasons why transitions might fail, and by no means all of them mean that the person concerned was “not really trans” or that, as radical feminists allege, the whole concept of gender identity is a lie. [continued here (mirror)]
“If I am lucky all my triumphs will go unremembered until the end.”
— Jeffrey Catherine Jones
Ragged Claws Network 
2 thoughts on “Rest in Peace: Jeffrey Catherine Jones (1944 – 2011)”