ELNA VIRGINIA HARDEE JONES

Elna Virginia Hardee Jones, 84, peacefully gained her angel wings at her home in Thibodaux, LA with her devoted daughters by her side on June 4, 2025.
Elna was born to Cecil Marvin Hardee, Sr. and Edna Virginia Boothe Hardee in St. Augustine, Florida on May 17, 1941. She was reared in Morgan City, LA, lived in Anchorage, AK, Northern California, Dallas and lived most recently in Thibodaux. She is survived by her daughters, Deanie Jones Soignier (Rodney Denis) and Elna Clair Jones Boudreaux (Greg “Bud”); grandchildren who filled her with pride, Mark Denis Soignier, Blake Allen Boudreaux and Virginia Claire Soignier; brothers, Cecil Marvin Hardee, Jr. (Maria Davis) of Plano, TX, Conley Hardee (Ruthie Aucoin) of Plano, TX, sister Dana Hardee Bruni (Joseph F. Jr.) of Bayou Vista, LA and sister-in-law, Ila Robicheaux Hardee.
She is also survived by her nieces, Denee’ Bruni Rosasco, Rhonda Bruni Guillory, Shannon Bruni and Jayme Hardee Hawthorne; and her nephews, Joseph F. Bruni, III, Hal Bruni, Townsend Hardee, Benjamin Hardee, David Hardee, Eric Hardee and Kern Hardee.
Elna graduated from Morgan City High School in 1960 where she lettered in basketball for three years, was chosen best athlete her senior year, and was president of her freshman, sophomore, and junior classes. She spent her childhood summers at her grandmother’s beach cottage on the Atlantic Ocean of Fernandina, FL.
Elna studied physical education at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, which led to a 30-plus years’ career with the American Red Cross. She was a Water Safety Instructor Trainer, as well as an Instructor Trainer for Standard First Aid and Back Injury Prevention. In 1977, she was recognized by the National American Red Cross for developing a special offshore water safety survival training program to meet the needs for oil companies in South Louisiana. Additionally, she taught public and private swimming lessons to children and adults for several decades. She found special joy in teaching ladies to lose their fear of water so they could enjoy swimming.
As the daughter of a shrimp dealer, Elna was selected as the queen of the 1963 Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival. During her reign, she traveled as the ambassador of Morgan City around the state, and she also attended the Mardi Gras Ball in Washington, DC.
As the mother of two daughters, she was a volunteer Girl Scout and held the following positions over the course of 6 years: Cadette and Senior Troop Leader, Area Service Unit Manager, Service Unit Cookie Manager and Sustaining Membership Enrollment Chair.
She was a lifetime member of the noncollegiate Beta Sigma Phi International Sorority in Morgan City, Northern California and in Dallas. She maintained friendships with her sisters for many years. A life-long practicing Methodist, she was an active church member in many places she lived, but especially at Pharr Chapel United Methodist Church in Morgan City and at Spring Valley UMC in Dallas. As a lay volunteer with Stephen Ministries at Spring Valley, she provided Christ-centered care to individuals who were home-bound.
While living in Dallas, she and her husband delivered Meals-on-Wheels. They were active members of the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center of Dallas and enjoyed regular Kosher meals with friends. She was also an active member of the Major James Kerr Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Elna’s hobbies included exploring places like Acapulco, Alaska, California, Guam, Texas and Japan; needle work such as sewing, cross-stitch, needlepoint, embroidery, and potholder making; reading, playing with her cats and visiting with her family and grandchildren. She loved to play games, like Uno, Pokeno, bingo and more recently, playing dominos with the Chicken Foot Gang at St. Joseph’s Manor. Her favorite place on Earth to visit was the beach.
Elna was proceeded in death by her husband of 57 years, Thomas Lynn Jones, her parents, Cecil Marvin Hardee, Sr. and Edna Virginia Hardee, brother Richard “Jiggie” Hardee, her granddaughter, Allie Marie Boudreaux, her niece Kara Hardee Coupe and her nephew Kevin Hardee.
The family wishes to express loving gratitude to the staff and residents of St. Joseph’s Manor assisted living facility for their friendship and compassion, as well as to the staff of Hope Hospice for their gentle care during her final days.
A memorial visitation will be held in her honor on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at First United Methodist Church, 1255 Canal Blvd., Thibodaux, Louisiana 70301 from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to First United Methodist Church, Thibodaux or to the American Red Cross.
Thibodaux Funeral Home is overseeing the arrangements.