Jones said she likes being a grandmother figure to the students and feeling like she influenced them in some way. She is a major influence on many students and a big part of their TCU story.

“I enjoy getting to know students and find out what they are planning to do and where they are from,” said Jones.

Kyle Kevorkian, a TCU alumnus, was a resident assistant in Sherley for two and a half years while Jones worked there. As an out-of-state student, Kevorkian still had to stay at TCU for some holidays as a resident assistant. So one Easter when Kevorkian had to stay in Fort Worth, Jones invited him to attend her family event. This meant a lot to him, and he was also invited to many of the Jones’ other family events, such as tailgates before football games.

“It all comes down to her intentionality,” said Kevorkian. “She realizes that every student is important to the TCU culture, and so she gets to know them.”

Mary's Missing

Students worried last fall when she disappeared from her normal position at the desk for a couple of days. Matt Winnek, a first-year strategic communication major, said many of the students were confused about where she went.

“No one told us anything about where she was,” said Winnek. “So the rumors started flying about what could have possibly happened to her. It is safe to say we were very worried about where she went.”

The students care about her as much as she cares about them. One chilly day, two boys were leaving Sherley Hall to head to the gym. As Jones noticed the boys leaving in short-sleeved shirts, she asked the boys where their sweatshirts were. The boys then mentioned to her they were from Chicago, so the colder temperatures did not bother them.

As a mom, Jones is fortunate that all three of her children attended TCU, and her son Clark Jones is a microbiology professor and was Faculty Senate chair at TCU.

When Clark was elected, he wrote a love letter about TCU and the meaning the school had to him. This letter was mainly about his mom, whom he believes allowed him to be here.

“When you are Mary Ruth’s son, bleeding purple is a requirement,” Clark wrote in his letter.

Clark said when he tells people his mom is Mary Ruth, they always get excited and tell him they love his mom. He loves hearing about how students remember his mom from Frog Camp.

Mary Ruth has attended Frog Camp for 26 years. She is best known for teaching the students the cheers that have been yelled at TCU for years. From the “Riff Ram” to “Icky Dicky,” Mary Ruth lights up the ballroom as soon as she walks in.

Mavis Tang met Mary Ruth at Frog Camp in 2018. A Frog Camp director, Tang was put in charge of checking on Mary Ruth throughout the day.

But Mary Ruth also checked up on Tang. The two chatted about Tang’s recent change of major and what was going on in her life. Since then, Tang said she never forgot a detail.

“She remembers everything anyone tells her,” Tang said.

When Tang graduated in 2019, there was one special person sitting in the audience cheering her on.

“After the ceremony, my mom asked me who that lady was in the audience cheering for me,” Tang said. “I had to explain to her that it was just Mary Ruth and that is what she does.”

Mary Ruth is a fixture at graduation. For years she has attended with longtime friend Kay Higgins, the associate dean of Student Development. They sit in the same spot to take pictures of the students.

Mary Ruth leaves her job as the desk assistant at 3 p.m., but returns to campus in the evenings for whatever is going on -- sporting events, speakers or student performances.

Mary Ruth is known for being someone who cares about everyone who comes in contact with her.

Higgins said, having her in the dorms is “such a gift,” and many parents realize that when they meet her as well.

“She’s a role-model, somebody you know will always listen, forever care and always be a light on for whoever needs her,” said Higgins.

Clark said Mary Ruth “will most likely be retiring this year or by the end of the year due to COVID-19.”

This past spring, an endowed scholarship was established in her name to benefit upper-division students who have demonstrated commitment to TCU.

Mary Ruth fills a lot of different roles for the TCU community. But, whenever anyone was asked to speak about her, they all would end up talking about the impact she has made not only on them but also on the entire community.