Earl Harold Jones

Earl was an intelligent man, a loyal and steadfast provider. He dedicated 30 years to the Kelowna plywood plant as general labourer, night shift supervisor and top cribbage challenger. Remembered for his love of bald eagles, Country Western recorded music, Elvis Presley, jigsaw puzzles, morning laptop visits to Castanet and solitaire, raising homing pigeons, caring for Mandy the cat, asparagus and cooked spinach, coaching minor hockey, his rose bushes, driving tractor to mow lawns for neighbours, pruning and picking grapes, security guard, taxi driver and pizza deliverer. He always kept busy, was well respected in the community, could debate the politics and knew the streets of Winfield and Kelowna like the back of his hand.

Born 1930 in the Nanaimo Hospital, to Harold and Verva (Bailey) Jones, he lived his first year in Red Gap B.C., just outside of Nanoose Bay on Vancouver Island, during the peak of the Straits Mill operations, the largest in the Pacific Northwest, servicing Japan’s very specific post Great Depression lumber export needs through rail and barge.

In 1938 the family began farming in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. Charlie 1929 (Ethel), Earl 1930 (Dorothy), Lois 1931 (Robert Currie), Margaret 1933 (Cliff Lathe), Verva 1940 (Trevor King), Dan 1944 (Tanna), Ken 1950 (Shelley). Earl loved his siblings, nieces and nephews. It was a special honour when so many made the trip to the Okanagan to celebrate Earl’s 80th birthday together.

When Earl was 28, he moved to British Columbia Kelowna’s Westside, where he raised his young sons David 1962 (Annette Evoy) and Gary 1964 (Kelly Collins), with their mother, May (Lorraine Mar). Earl loved to tell stories of his sons and the men they had become. David, strong supportive husband and family man, having served our country in the military. He and his Dad enjoyed a renewed relationship through weekly dinners at Moma Papas and thrice weekly trips to Earl’s dialysis sessions at Kelowna General Hospital. Gary, strong supportive husband and father to Travis and Patrick, hard worker, constant protector and volunteer, risking his life during the forest fire seasons.

In 1981 Earl met his wife Dorothy (Wilson Patterson) and together they began an almost 45 year loving journey through living at the Winfield Okanagan Lake house on Pixton Road, although he did not like to swim, to the Kelowna Sandhaven town house on Cameron Drive, to the Apple Valley Society of Hope apartment on Benvoulin Drive. Earl supported Dorothy through raising her teenagers Nedra 1954 (Mario Casoria), Terry 1956 (Bonnie Bidewell), Rick 1957 (Phillipa Paine), Randy 1959 (Brenda LaRose), Charlene 1961, Kent 1963 (Marianne Garrett) and of course daughter-in-law Sue (Delves Patterson) and son-in-law David (Frayn). He drove Dorothy to Moose Jaw Saskatchewan in 1981 to greet Andrew, Dorothy’s firstborn grandchild to her firstborn son. In 1985 he drove to the ferry at Horseshoe Bay to Gibsons Landing to greet Neil, Dorothy’s firstborn grandchild to her firstborn daughter. Earl was an integral part of Dorothy’s life and they shared many happy memories including a few cruises with the children, many weddings and family reunions, and an extended trip to Mexico even climbing the Chichen Itza pyramids. Earl also supported Dorothy through sad memories including the extended illnesses and losses of son Terry (1956-2006), daughter Nedra Lynne (1954-2019), and daughter-in-law Marianne (1963-2020). On the happier note, Earl liked to exchange age jokes with Dorothy’s sisters Ila Buffam Climenhaga and Betty Mulligan in particular. They’d debate exactly who was the oldest and he’d make sure each birthday card was accompanied by the correct age dollar amount.

2024 was in many ways a transitional year for Earl. January 1st, as he was still hospitalized for complications from a broken hip, his type 2 diabetes and now another bout of pneumonia, it really took a toll and worried us all. Earl was strong and rallied throughout 2024. We will be forever grateful for the extra care and attention he received from his nurse “Angels” Connie and Tammy, who through Mary-lin’s introduction, kept Earl mobile and strong. Earl especially appreciated Tammy taking him to pick up his lucky lottery tickets after his exercises. He and Dorothy also really enjoyed their social times and barbeques at Apple Valley Ziglar building and on the patio so Earl could catch his sunshine rays. During 2024 Earl enjoyed many visits from friends including joking with Lynne, and family including Mario and Sue and young handyman Codie, and was keenly aware of all current events and activities. We were all so pleased he was enjoying such a fine quality of life in his 95th year.

Earl’s wish was to live his final days at home, until 95 like his father, and bless him, he did. Earl woke up to sunshine, spent the morning with wife Dorothy preparing for his son David to take him to KGH dialysis. There he suffered a massive brain bleed, followed by three nights unconscious in Emergency during which friends and family were able to visit and say their goodbyes. Dorothy stayed up with him to keep him company that last night, then a few minutes before noon, after she left for home, Earl in the company of his son David and daughter-in-law Annette, passed, peacefully.

It was Earl’s wishes to have a simple scattering of his ashes into the ossuary, accompanied by friends and family, at the Lakeview Memorial Gardens Cemetery. 2850 Dry Valley Road., Kelowna (just above Duck Lake). We have chosen Wednesday, March 12th, 1p.m. There will also be a plaque for those who wish to visit and pay their respects another time.

In lieu of flowers, please support Canadian Diabetes Research and help divert from landfill by donating: Clothing & Textiles, Small household items, Home décor, shoes and more, Books to https://declutterfordiabetes.ca/