Leslie William Evan Jones

On May 4, 1929, in Lower Hamswell, near Bath, England, the first child of Charles Albert Edward and Evelyn Mabel (nee Bond) Jones was born. Leslie William Evan Jones was the name given, which was originated from his paternal and maternal grandparents' names, an old English custom.

Growing up, he enjoyed working at his grandfather's farm, where he learned to drive a truck at a young age. He had happy memories of running in the open fields and climbing trees, his favorite thing to do.

He attended a one-room schoolhouse in Upton Cheney, which still stands today. He admitted that he hated school, but was glad that he could read, write, and count. His teacher said he would be good at working with his hands, which came true.

Leslie was always trying to make people laugh and smile and doing more than he was asked to do. He was always a hard worker, having his first job at a factory assembling electric motors at age 14. Working with his hands was what came easy to him. When he was twenty, he and his family moved to Canada after he was released from his service with the Royal Air Force. In Canada, he always had work, but not the ones he truly enjoyed.

Not until his family moved to the United States, of February 11, 1956, did he find jobs that he enjoyed. He could fix and build almost anything. He worked in maintenance at Travis Pattern and Foundry where he retired. He enjoyed gardening, especially growing vegetables, and sharing them with his friends and neighbors.

The two most important words for Leslie were love and service. As a long-time member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he had served in various callings including serving two missions with his wife, Sarah, in Melbourne, Australia.

He passed away peacefully at home on April 5, 2022, with his family by his side. Leslie was predeceased by his parents and his brothers Donald and Dennis.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah, of 32 years, sister Janet, children Sheryl (Joel), Brian (Renice), Tamara, Duane (Irene), Robyne (Than), and Emily (Jeff), and 23 grandchildren, to whom grandpa gave, not to be forgotten, wise advice, "don't do anything stupid."

The funeral service will be Saturday, April 9, 2022, at 11 am with a family viewing at 10 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 808 E. Sitka, Spokane, WA 99208.