Obituary of Stephen Jones, Boone County, Arkansas *********************************************************** Submitted by: Rosa Cline Date: 27 Dec 2009 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** Published: Harrison Daily Times Saturday, November 28, 2009 6:09 AM Stephen Decatur Jones, Jr., of Henderson, Nev., passed away Friday, Nov. 20 (2009) at the age of 86. He was born Dec. 3, 1922, at Alpena Pass, the oldest child of Stephen Decatur Jones, Sr. and Millie Hopper Jones. He graduated from Alpena Pass High School in 1939 and from the University of Arkansas in 1947 with a degree in accounting. His college was interrupted for about three years during World War II. He saw action in the European Theater of Operations as a member of the 44th Infantry Division, receiving the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge as well as other campaign ribbons and awards. In 1945, while on leave from the Army awaiting shipment to the Pacific Theater, he met Marie Cain of Berryville. They were married when the Japanese surrendered and his transfer was cancelled. Marie preceded him in death in 1994. They had five children who survive him: Stephanie Marie Lane of Overland Park, Kan.; Stephen Michael Jones of Maui, Hawaii; Randall Sterlin Jones of Bells, Texas; Timothy Alan Jones of Rowlett, Texas; and Cheryl Lynn Foster of Henderson, Nev. In 1996, he married Valence Dodson Powell of Green Forest, who preceded him in death in 2007. Also preceding him in death were his parents; half-brother, James; two half-sisters, Cornelia Faulkner and Tressie Godfrey; and a sister and brother-in-law, Rosanna and William Sumner. In addition to his children, he is survived by two brothers, Claude Raymond Jones of Harrison and Wendell Oren Jones of Henderson, Nev.; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; the children of Valence, Gary Richard Powell of Pensacola Beach, Fla. and Tori Powell Dale of Harrison; and a very special friend, Betty Jo Hardies of Henderson, Nev. After graduating from college in 1947, he worked for the Internal Revenue Service for about three years, until he resigned and opened an accounting office in Harrison. He re-entered the military service in 1952, as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, serving six years at several locations, including two years in Okinawa, Japan. Upon release from active duty in 1958, he joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve and later retired as a major. He worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for more than 20 years, advancing in grade and position to become a Deputy Assist-ant Inspector General in Washington, D.C. and a Regional Inspector General in Chicago, Ill -inois and Temple, Texas In 1978, he was appointed as the U.S. Government Comptroller for American Samoa, the senior American official on the islands. After four years in Pago Pago, America Samoa, he retired in 1982 with more than 37 years of military and civil service that spanned the terms of nine presidents from Roosevelt to Reagan. After retirement, he settled in Pahrump, Nev., where he was an associate in accounting and tax businesss before moving to Henderson, Nev. in 1998. He was known as an honest and hard-working man, devoted to his family. He possessed a natural wit and could find humor in almost any situation, making it easy for him to develop the many acquaintances he made around the world. It was said that "he never met a stranger." A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 30, at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nev. where his ashes will be interred. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his name can be sent to Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Buchanan, Boulder City, Nev. 89005.