Kenneth Duane Jones Sr.

September 4, 1930 – September 5, 2011

“Here comes trouble!” That was the name Bi-Mart employees affectionately called Ken Duane “Shorty” Jones.

The doctor's office described him as “Quite a character.”

Ken Duane Jones was born on Labor Day, September 4, 1930. He took his last breath 81 years later on Labor Day, September 5, 2011.

Ken was born in Long Beach, CA. Ken and a friend were floating on one of California's aqueduct’s when a mountain of water came barreling through threatening to wash them out to sea. The coastguard was called to rescue the boys.

Around the age of 11, Ken's family packed up their belongs and moved to Oregon. It is here where he met Irane in the 7th grade, but she didn't like him because he hit her in the arm. So she got him back by marrying him.

Ken was quite the athlete. He played basketball, baseball and football and ran track participating in 5 events.

Ken served in the United States Navy in the Korean War on Aircraft carriers for 3 years including the Badoeng Strait, Antietam, Shangri-La, Yorktown, Princeton. On leave between years two and three he married Irane Allen on July 5, 1953. So they recently celebrated 58 years of marriage.

Ken and Irane lived in the same home since 1955. When they moved into their home, it was out in the country on a dirt road.

Then he went back to serve out his final year and play basketball on the aircraft carrier. They made a court on one of the lifts that lowered and raised the fighter planes.

Ken told a story of taking one of the aircraft carriers through the Panama canal where it cleared by seemingly inches.

Fishing was in Ken's blood. He even fished off the aircraft carrier when it would stop and the cook would cook up his catch.

Ken and Irane bought property up in the hill country outside of Clatskanine. First 10 acres and then they kept adding pieces to get it to its present 25 acres. It seems like the family of 7 now was up there about every other weekend camping, hunting, fishing, fixing up the property. They have seen lots of wildlife there over the years – from cougars to bobcats, beavers, deer, elk and other critters.

They joined the oldest fishing and hunting club in Oregon in 1994 – Multnomah Anglers and Hunting Club started around 1883.

Ken worked for Centennial Flour Mills for some 17 years. He was studying to be a Miller when he was injured on the job when he was caught on an exposed belt that didn't have a safety guard on it. He could have lost his life, but it was not his time. He ran forklifts among other things.

Ken worked up to head custodian at the Portland School District. They loved his work. Nobody could make floors shine like he did. So they were sad to see him retire.

Because of being around asbestos from boilers on aircraft carriers and the fine flour at the mill plus breathing in the insecticide coating the inside of boxcars, it was inevitable that Ken would develop lung problems though he never smoked. It was his difficulty in breathing that added to making his last month of life miserable. He was determined to make it to his 81st birthday – which he did, and then took his last breath a few hours later.

Ken is survived by 5 children: Val, 56, Ken, Jr., 55, Dan, 52 and his wife Kelly, Dave, 50 and Dana, 39, along with her husband, Randy, plus 12 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and one on the way ,plus 3 great, great grand-children.

Irane said, “We should never have had rabbits as pets!”

* * * * * * * * * *

Ken Duane Jones, Sr.

September 4, 1930 – September 5, 2011

“Here comes trouble!” That was the name Bi-Mart employees affectionately called Ken Duane “Shorty” Jones.

The doctor's office described him as “Quite a character.”

Ken Duane Jones was born on Labor Day, September 4, 1930. He took his last breath 81 years later on Labor Day, September 5, 2011.

Ken was born in Long Beach, CA. Ken and a friend were floating on one of California's aqueduct’s when a mountain of water came barreling through threatening to wash them out to sea. The coastguard was called to rescue the boys.

Around the age of 11, Ken's family packed up their belongs and moved to Oregon. It is here where he met Irane in the 7th grade, but she didn't like him because he hit her in the arm. So she got him back by marrying him.

Ken was quite the athlete. He played basketball, baseball and football and ran track participating in 5 events.

Ken served in the United States Navy in the Korean War on Aircraft carriers for 3 years including the Badoeng Strait, Antietam, Shangri-La, Yorktown, Princeton. On leave between years two and three he married Irane Allen on July 5, 1953. So they recently celebrated 58 years of marriage.

Ken and Irane lived in the same home since 1955. When they moved into their home, it was out in the country on a dirt road.

Then he went back to serve out his final year and play basketball on the aircraft carrier. They made a court on one of the lifts that lowered and raised the fighter planes.

Ken told a story of taking one of the aircraft carriers through the Panama canal where it cleared by seemingly inches.

Fishing was in Ken's blood. He even fished off the aircraft carrier when it would stop and the cook would cook up his catch.

Ken and Irane bought property up in the hill country outside of Clatskanine. First 10 acres and then they kept adding pieces to get it to its present 25 acres. It seems like the family of 7 now was up there about every other weekend camping, hunting, fishing, fixing up the property. They have seen lots of wildlife there over the years – from cougars to bobcats, beavers, deer, elk and other critters.

They joined the oldest fishing and hunting club in Oregon in 1994 – Multnomah Anglers and Hunting Club started around 1883.

Ken worked for Centennial Flour Mills for some 17 years. He was studying to be a Miller when he was injured on the job when he was caught on an exposed belt that didn't have a safety guard on it. He could have lost his life, but it was not his time. He ran forklifts among other things.

Ken worked up to head custodian at the Portland School District. They loved his work. Nobody could make floors shine like he did. So they were sad to see him retire.

Because of being around asbestos from boilers on aircraft carriers and the fine flour at the mill plus breathing in the insecticide coating the inside of boxcars, it was inevitable that Ken would develop lung problems though he never smoked. It was his difficulty in breathing that added to making his last month of life miserable. He was determined to make it to his 81st birthday – which he did, and then took his last breath a few hours later.

Ken is survived by 5 children: Val, 56, Ken, Jr., 55, Dan, 52 and his wife Kelly, Dave, 50 and Dana, 39, along with her husband, Randy, plus 12 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and one on the way ,plus 3 great, great grand-children.

Irane said, “We should never have had rabbits as pets!”

Arrangements under the direction of Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes, Portland, OR.