Perry "Pete" W. Jones, Jr. January 24, 1926 - June 2, 2012

Longtime Nehalem resident Perry "Pete" W. Jones, Jr. died Saturday, June 2, 2012, in Wheeler of Alzheimer's disease. His wife, Lois, was with him at his side when he passed.

Pete was born to Perry W. and Lura B. Jones, January 24, 1926 in Independence, Oregon. He lived in Independence with his parents and brother, Rodney, until he enlisted in the United States Air Force in August, 1944. He completed his basic training in Amarillo, Texas and continued his aerial gunnery training as a tail-gunner at Tyndal Field in Florida. He was honorably discharged in August, 1946 in Ft. Lewis, Washington.

After his service, he returned home, enrolled in Oregon College of Education (currently Western Oregon University) and met the love of his life, Lois Mae Gordon. They were married at Lois' Aunt Beulah's home in Portland on December 28, 1947. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in education and moved with Lois and their infant daughter, Diane Valerie, to Estacada. There he taught sixth grade and PE from 1949-1954. During this time, Pete and Lois welcomed their second daughter, Marilyn Susan.

In 1955, Pete accepted a teaching job in Gresham at Orient Grade School and moved to Boring. Their third daughter, Annette Marie, was born in 1959. Pete attended Oregon State University and received his master's degree in education in 1962. Pete and family moved to Nehalem in 1967, where he was principal at Nehalem Upper Elementary for one year. In 1968 he became a vocational coordinator with the Tillamook County ESD until his retirement in 1985, ending a 35-year career in education.

Pete belonged to many professional alumni and veteran organizations throughout his life including past master at the Masonic Lodge in Estacada.

With their lifelong friends, Chuck and Vivienne Bullock, Pete and Lois bought acreage on Harrington Loop Rd.

in Sisters in 1972.

The two families subsequently built a cabin where they enjoyed spending as much time as possible pursuing outdoor activities of biking, hiking, backpacking, and camping.

Pete especially loved to fly-fish having given up his old method of fishing that he disdainfully referred to as "bottom gouging"! Pete was a lifelong enthusiast of sports, and played golf, baseball and football.

If not playing the games, he was an avid fan of Trailblazer basketball and the New York Yankees.

He loved to fly, sometimes hopping a jet just for the pleasure of flying! Eventually, he took flying lessons and got his small-aircraft pilot's license.

He also enjoyed genealogy, playing pinochle, cribbage and "counting cards" at blackjack tables in Reno!

Pete was best known for his sense of humor, and has left this personal legacy of play on words and "one-liners" to his wife, daughters, and grandchildren, who frequently banter with each other and unsuspecting people outside the family!

Surviving Pete are Lois, his wife of 64 years; daughters Diane (Doug) Hunt, Marilyn (Denny) Ebner and Annette (Kirk) Jolma; grandchildren, Aric, Rory and Ted Hunt, Carrie and Bret Ebner, Kristine (Jolma) Boatman, Angela (Jolma) Porter; great-grandchildren, AJ Hunt, Tyler and DJ Boatman, Noah and Andrew Porter, all of Oregon.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to a charity of your choice. A private burial with honor guard was held June 7, 2012 at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon.