Katherine passed away peacefully at home in Harpswell on May 18, 2025, next to the ocean she loved dearly. She was a unique and caring mother, sister, “GRM K,” aunt, daughter, wife and friend, and had a special interest in all things intellectual, as evidenced by the many stimulating conversations she initiated. While fiercely independent, she drew strength from her relationships with family, the Harpswell community and friends.
Katherine grew up in a loving family in Augusta in a small house without hot water or an indoor bathroom. Her family had a large garden and canned food in order to make ends meet. She enjoyed sledding, walking in the Gannett woods, visiting family, playing clarinet and learning — graduating from Cony High School in 1955.
Her early work history included Sampson’s Supermarket, Albany Felt Co., the IRS, and then a long career at Medical Care Development, where she helped to develop, fund and promote Maine health care initiatives such as the first telehealth system and improved rural medical care. This role led her to work in Haiti, Tunisia, and the Texas Heart Institute, where she served as a managerial consultant.
Education was one of Katherine’s top priorities, both for herself and others. She was the first in her family to graduate from college, and she did it while working, raising children and taking evening classes. She established a scholarship at Cony High School that continues to provide support for students interested in pursuing studies in education or psychology, two avenues of thought she revered.
In the 1990s, Katherine became a selectman in Harpswell and demonstrated her stewardship and support of town government with a deliberate and careful nod to all interests, and with a clear and assertive style. She was passionate in the belief that government could help lift all boats for the common good with fairness and equity. She believed strongly in the personal responsibility of each of us to be civically engaged.
Katherine’s legacy includes a love of plants, gardening and the beauty of the natural world. She enjoyed many years sailing along the coast of Maine, going for long walks in nature, propagating beautiful plants, and monitoring the ebbs and flows of tides, winds and the shifting nature of the seasons. Other favorite activities included swinging while looking out over the Reach, and visiting Ocean Point with her sister, Linda, followed by an ice cream cone.
She was an avid reader of great works and a student of Maine history, and she spent endless hours researching her genealogy and that of others. She never forgot those who came before her. Many grave sites in Maine have benefited from her (along with Linda’s) careful tending.
John and Julie were incredibly fortunate to have such a bright, loving and supportive mother, who guided them in their education, careers, families and lives. GRM K also supported her grandchildren to pursue their dreams, emailed regularly with some, and passed on her love of gardening by providing gardening work in the summer. She will be missed dearly.
Katherine was predeceased by Dr. Manu Chatterjee (husband), Lauretta Coombs Hawes (mother), Charles Hawes (father), Marilyn Civitarese (sister), Joan Chapman (niece), and Lester Paul (brother-in-law).
She is survived by John S. Jones (son), his two daughters, Maddy and Emma, and their mother, Elizabeth Torraca; Julie Springer (daughter), her husband, Scott, and their children, Andrew and Kate; Linda Paul (sister); Marilyn Crochere (niece), and her husband, Joseph; and other extended family. Her first husband, Franklin Jones, also survives her.
From Katherine’s writings in 2017: “I have had such an incredible, productive, unique, extraordinary, wonderful, amusing, intriguing and inquisitorial learning experience of life. I have done so much, learned so much, loved so much and have hopefully done my share of good in this life. I would not change it.”
A private memorial service is planned for the summer.
If you wish to share an online condolence or learn about memorial contributions, please visit brackettfh.com.
