VENAL JONES

On October 21, 2011, Venal Jones passed away at Sunshine Terrace Rehabilitation from the effects of an aneurysm in his brain. Venal was born March 14, 1922 in Malad City, Idaho, to David Sylvester Jones and Lottie Williams Jones. He was the third child and oldest son in the family. When Venal was young, his family moved to Smithfield, UT. He enjoyed returning to Malad each summer, however, to work on the farm with his grandfather who made a positive impression on the young boy.

In 1940 Venal graduated from North Cache High School in Smithfield. Shortly after graduation the United States became involved in World War II when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in December, 1941.

Venal, like most young men of the time, wanted to serve his country. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served for four years receiving an honorable discharge in 1945. His first assignment was in North Africa. He was also involved in the invasion of Sicily. Later his company was sent to the Philippines where they participated in liberating the Philippine Islands. He enjoyed sharing his war stories with his grandchildren, who were a captive audience.

After the war he married Maurine Pickett on January 27, 1946. Their union was blessed with two children: Jeanne Kay Jones Cannon (Joseph) and Jerry Venal Jones (Patricia). They were also blessed with eight grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Vernal received a great deal of joy and companionship from his family and they are really going to miss the earthly association with their father and grandfather.

While attending Utah State Agricultural College, he leased a service station from Utah Oil called Ven’s Service. Later he worked as a salesman and store manager for Firestone Corp. In 1960 he began working for Logan City as the recorder and later as the office manager. He also managed the Logan City Credit Union. He retired from Logan City in 1987. In 1971 the Logan City mayor asked Venal to research incorporating a computer into the billing department. An IBM central processing unit was purchased the same year. It was housed in a unit the size of three refrigerators. The printer was the size of a small piano. It had 10K memory and “we thought it was the fastest thing on wheels.” Venal took it as a challenge to learn to write programs and enter information for the billing department. The program recorded information for 8,000 residential and 1,000 commercial accounts. This was a ground-breaking adventure for the city, and many people were skeptical the computer concept would ever take hold.

Venal’s doctors suggested he take up golf as a means to keep his back strong after back surgery. He recorded in his personal history, “in my heyday my handicap was two. My best score was 66 on 18 holes and I have scored 13 holes in one. But it isn’t the handicap of the scores or trophies that mean so much, it is the friends I have made. I have made many good friends through golf and golfed with many excellent athletes.” Venal enjoyed service on the Board of Directors of the Logan Country Club.

Venal and Maurine were avid Aggies. Venal was watching the Aggie game Friday night and giving armchair coaching. He and Maurine were steady supporters of the Big Blue Club. Venal was a member of the American Legion Post #12. He has been a member of Post #12 for a continuous 48 years.

Venal was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a faithful home teacher. He was very interested in the families he visited. His companion was his neighbor and good friend, Lynn Bracken.

Venal is preceded in death by his wife, Maurine; his parents; and two sisters, LaRue Carlson and Ruth Jones. He is survived by his children, eight grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and his siblings, Dixie Evans, Stockton, CA; David Jones, St. George, UT; Darwin Jones, Reno, NV; Betty Alsup, Boise; Robert Jones, Alpine, WY; and Kenneth Jones, Sandy, UT.

The family would like to express their gratitude for the nurses, CNAs and therapists at Sunshine Terrace. The tender care and love they showed our father went the extra mile. Funeral services will be October 6, 2011 at noon in the Allen-Hall Mortuary Chapel, Logan, UT. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery.