James Darold Jones

James Darold Jones, age 85, passed away peacefully on Saturday January 31, 2026. He was in at-home hospice care for the last month of his life, which gave him an opportunity to receive visits from many friends and family members, and to call others to share stories of their many adventures together. He had an opportunity to realize how much he was loved by all the important people in his life.

He was born September 22, 1940 in Wichita, Kansas. His parents were James S. Jones, Jr. and Katherine A. (Shore) Jones. He was the first of 7 children, followed by Don, Shirley, Tom, Patricia, Barbara and Randy.

He graduated from Manitou Springs High School in 1958, and followed his dad and uncle in the business of advertising signs in livestock auctions in North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska and Kansas. Then he joined his neighbor in the home improvement business. The activity he spent the most time in, and enjoyed the most, was in real estate, as a salesman and then as an appraiser.

He met his wife, Evelyn “Sue” (Bornemann) Jones in 1970 through mutual friends and motorcycles, and they married in 1971 in Manitou Springs. They had two children, Brian and Tracy.

He was active for over 50 years in the Manitou Masonic Lodge #68, acting as Master of the Lodge twice. He was also active in the Manitou Springs Kiwanis, Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Congregational Church choir and bell choir. He was the Kiwanis advisor to the high school Key Club for several years, and enjoyed working with the remarkable students he met there.

His most enjoyable hobby was building and flying free flight model airplanes with his friends in the Magnificent Mountain Men model airplane club. He had quite a few adventures with this group of people, going to many regional meets and the national contest in Muncie, Indiana several times.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jimmie Jones and Katherine Jones, brothers Don and Tom Jones and sister Barbara (Jones) Applegate. He is survived by his wife Evelyn “Sue” Jones, son Brian, daughter Tracy and granddaughter Allyson, as well as sisters Shirley and Patricia and brother Randy.

His Celebration of Life service will be Saturday, February 28 at 10:00 a. m. at the Masonic Center, 1150 Panorama Drive, Colorado Springs (719-632-8994). In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice, or take a friend to dinner. He enjoyed a good meal and conversation with friends. He liked La Unica on West Colorado Avenue.