WILLIAM RALPH JONES, JR.

JEROME – William Ralph “Bill” Jones, Jr., 89, of Jerome, passed peacefully on October 23, 2011 at his home in Jerome. Bill was born June 14, 1922 in Malad, Idaho, the second of six children born to William Ralph Jones and Pearl Jones. He spent his early years with his family living in southern Idaho and northern Utah. His family finally settled in Preston, Idaho, where Bill graduated from high school in 1941.

In 1941, Bill was drafted into the U.S. Army. During this time, Bill exchanged letters with a young lady from Kansas named Loretta Myrtle Jones. They were married June 21, 1943 in Hayes, Kansas. They were later divorced. Bill moved back to Preston and drove truck and hauled gravel with his father. It was during that time that he met and married the love of his life, Karma Gregory. They were married June 14, 1946.

Bill worked at several jobs during his life. He worked as a salesman, cook, carpenter, cement finisher, roofer, tractor driver, milk hauler, truck driver, realtor, construction worker and potato plant worker; he also worked in a bean warehouse and later was a homesteader and owned his own farm. He enjoyed a good, hard day’s work. Bill was a loving and dedicated husband and father. In his spare time, Bill enjoyed constructing fishing poles, tying flies and, of course, fishing.

After the passing of his beloved wife of 44 years, Bill dedicated his life to serving others. He served and cared for his daughter through a long and difficult recovery. He served his brother who became disabled after suffering a stroke. His daughter, Maxine, recalls the wonderful service rendered when she called her dad and asked if he would care for her six children while she tended to her child while he was undergoing brain surgery.

Bill owned a small home in Eden that he would often rent to unfortunate families with small children, knowing that they would not be able to pay. While in Eden, Bill purchased a large building which he used as a carpentry shop where he enjoyed tinkering with tools and building small items for others. He also used this building to provide housing for his nephew while helping out his sister.

Bill enjoyed living in Eden for many years but eventually moved to Jerome to be closer to family. In Jerome, Bill enjoyed gardening, playing cards with his family and giving the great grandchildren a ride on his mobility cart. He loved to spoil the great grandchildren; when they would come to visit, he would hurry to the fridge to get them a Twinkie and M&M’s. His love was his family and spending time with them, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bill had a great sense of humor and enjoyed telling jokes that he had first heard up to 50 years earlier.

The family would like to thank Idaho Health and Hospice for the compassionate service they provided for us and for our beloved father.

Bill is survived by his six children: William Jones III of Missouri; Diane (Lee) Harmon of Twin Falls; Glen Jones of Boise; Maxine (Lloyd) Young of Jerome; Melvin (Janet) Jones and Karl (Cindy) Jones, all of Salmon; as well as 22 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren; and nine great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; three sisters; and one grandson, Kevin Harmon.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held October 29 at the Hove-Robertson Funeral Chapel, Jerome, with Bishop Ed King of the Jerome LDS 10th Ward conducting. Military honors will be provided by the Idaho National Guard. Burial will take place at the Hazelton Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Hove-Robertson Funeral Chapel in Jerome.