OBITUARY FOR JOHN PETER JONES

John Peter Jones (Peter), 73, died peacefully at his home in Clearwater Florida on June 19, 2010. The son of Paul Norman Jones and Jane Berg Jones was born in Jamestown, NY on September 22, 1936. He attended schools in Lakewood NJ, and college at the State University of NY Cobleskill and Le Tourneau University in Longview, TX. He then joined the Marine Corps after college. Following his marriage to Donna Young Jones in 1961, they settled in Birmingham, Michigan where their two children, Peter Christian Jones and Melissa Ann Jones were born.

After working in sales with Union National Furniture of Jamestown and Payne Fabrics/Mead Corporation of Dayton, Mr. Jones and his family followed their life time dream of buying a 42 foot sailing ketch in Ellos, Sweden and sailing throughout Europe. Their adventure encompassed more than 10 countries from Sweden to Italy, lasted almost 3 years and resulted in a series on Armed Forces Network titled “Adventures of the Peter Christian”, and several published articles.

Captain J Peter Jones, as he was known to his friends, never lost his love of sailing and was able to combine his artistic talents working with wood and specializing in nautical art into a new career. In 1987, he married Carolyn Vance and they lived in Clearwater, FL where he had an elaborate workshop in their garage. All those who loved him will forever keep in their memories images of him carving marine memorabilia and an occasional knife handle or two, always with his favorite classical music station playing in the background. He took great pride in knowing that his work is exhibited in private and corporate collections including the Maritime Law Association of the United States, The Whaling Museum in Nantucket, MA, the Massachusetts Maritime Historical Association, Mariners Museum in Newport News, VA, Peabody Museum in Salem, MA, San Francisco Maritime Museum, and the U.S.C.G. Academy Alumni Association in New London, CT. In 1995 he was nominated for a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship award. His carvings have been sold all over the world and his family is fortunate to have many beautiful pieces of art lovingly carved, sculpted, painted or drawn to remember him by.

His accomplishments also include receiving his Oceans Masters license in 1971, and in an effort to promote his love of the sea was a founder of both International Vessel Recovery and Maritime Arts and Research.

Capt. J Peter Jones was his own man and everyone who knew him has a colorful story or two to relate. He will especially be missed by his family, but also his many friends including his buddies at the Long Center where he swam almost every day. It is a comfort to his family that his strong faith gave him comfort in his final days.

“Dad” and “PaPa Pete” (Grandpa) were cherished names to him. His son Pete and his wife Beth live in Suwannee, GA with their two daughters, Megan 13 and Hannah 11. His daughter, Melissa of Fort Lauderdale and has two daughters and one son—Kyra 12, Magnus 4 and Mia 2. In addition to his two children and 5 grandchildren, he has a stepdaughter Debi Vance Skaff of Gainesville, a stepson Douglas Vance of Bardstown, KY, and a step-granddaughter Darci Standridge. Also surviving him are two sisters, Cecelia Jones of Ann Arbor, MI and Martha Thompson of Fort Meyers; three nephews Ian Thompson, Aaron Thompson and Christopher Jones; one niece Ellen Jones Bernard; and four grandnephews Lane Thompson, Matthew Thompson, James Bernard and Matthew Bernard. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Jones in 1966 and Jane Jones in 1982. Preceding him also were his grandparents Carl and Mildred Berg descendents of early Swedish settlers (in the Chautauqua County, Jamestown, NY and Warren, PA regions), and Elmer and Anna Jones, both of Swedish descent as well.

A Celebration of Life is planned at his home Friday July 2nd at 4pm. Mrs. Jones has a special message to the hospice workers who helped the family through this transition process. As an expression of gratitude for their valuable assistance she requests memorial donations be sent to The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, Fl 33760. Attn. Emerald Team in memory of J. P. Jones.

Sov gott och vila i frid Pete

Veterans Funeral Care

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