Celebrating Harry Jones

Harry and one of his great grands

Harry Jones – what a GREAT name! Puts in mind, mine anyway, superhero alter egos – like Reed Richards, Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent. You know, straight forward, no nonsense, solidly good humans.

Harry was my very good friends Jenny, Jeff and Michal’s father. Also Steve’s but I’ve not met him YET. I did however, happily, have the chance to meet Harry.

What follows is the text from his memorial service, happening later today. Yup, Harry checked out of this specific existence. He’s missed BIGLY and remembered with mondo love.
~~~~~
Harry Donald Jones, left this blue marble, Spaceship Earth on May 7, 2016.  He  was born in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania on February 25, 1923.  

Until his son Stephen  was old enough to read, Stephen thought that the sign coming into Punxsutawney said "birth place of Harry Jones."  He was preceded in this life by his parents, Alice Shields Jones and  M. Rae Jones, brothers Elias “Kiyi," Jack, Rae and Sister Rachel.  Harry’s beloved wife,  Zureta Timberlake "Timmi" Jones – who he wed on June 29th, 1957 – preceded him in 2010.

Harry graduated from Indiana High School in 1941, was an Ensign in the Navy during World War II and, afterward, attended Bucknell University, graduating with a chemical engineering degree.

He was the owner of Jones Furniture  Company, located  at 1019 Philadelphia Street and later worked for R&P Coal Company until he retired. Harry was a lifelong member of the Indiana Volunteer Fire Company and past secretary of the Indiana Borough Parking Authority. He was also a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and a Mason. Harry loved to travel and he and Timmi crisscrossed the country in a camper many times. In later life he enjoyed traveling to see his family. He also enjoyed restoring antique furniture. He was a formidable Scrabble and bridge player and took no prisoners as anyone who played against him can attest. Also, anything chocolate was his!

We bid him a fond farewell.

He is survived by his children Michal Jones-Stewart of Shelocta, Stephen Jones and wife Laura of Tucson AZ, Jenny Jones-Moats and husband John of Phoenix AZ and Jeffrey  Jones and husband Mark Secord  of Lisbon NH. He is also survived by his grandchildren Diane ( & Brad) Neal of Seneca Falls NY, Colleen (& Jason) Epstein of South Plainfield New Jersey, Russell and Andrew Stewart of Fredericksburg Va.  Great grandchildren too – Noah and Hunter Epstein of South Plainfield.

I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren’t trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom.
~ Umberto Eco, Foucault’s Pendulum

I lost my father this past year, and the word feels right because I keep looking for him.  As if he were misplaced. As If he could just turn up, like a sock or a set of keys.
~ Mark Slouka 

Great Jones!

At sixteen,  you still think you can escape from your father. You aren’t listening to his voice speaking through your mouth, you don’t see how your gestures already mirror his; you don’t see him in the way you hold your body, in the way you sign your name. You don’t hear his whisper in your blood.
~ Salman Rushdie, East, West

I’d love to know how Dad saw me when I was six. I’d love to know a hundred things.  When a parent dies, a filing cabinet full of all the fascinating stuff also ceases to exist. I never imagined how hungry I'd be one day to look inside it.
~ David Mitchell, The Bone Clocks 

Because Dad told you he’d be here forever. Because I thought forever was like Mars – far away.
~ Kwame Alexander, The Crossover

We never get over our Fathers, and we’re not required to. (Irish Proverb)
~Martin Sheen, Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son