Obituary of Ray Jones

Longtime Stratton, Colorado Ray Harold Jones passed away July 10, 2008 at the Tender Care Village in Flagler. He was 91 years old. Ray was born on January 7, 1917 in Plainview, Kansas to Dave and Edna (Sissel) Jones. He was one of three children. On June 30, 1945, Ray married Lila Marie Barber in Goodland, Kansas. To this union two children were born; Donna and Ron. Ray went to school in Stockton, Kansas. As a young man he had an urge to travel so he hopped the freight cars and went from place to place, earning money as he went. Not long afterwards was the beginning on WWII. Ray joined the Army Air Corp and flew as turret gunner. He flew one mission for a friend as tail gunner and decided he didn’t like flying backwards and he wouldn’t do it again. In his military career he flew the longest recorded mission in WWII – 17 hours! He was very proud to serve his country and the pride stayed with him till the day he died. He received an honorable discharge with rank of Sergeant. A few years later he married Lila. At the beginning of their married life they owned and operated Ray’s Furniture in Burlington. In a few years they moved to California where Ray worked at an aircraft plant. Missing Colorado and the country life they moved to a farm north of Bethune with Ray’s parents where they farmed together. In 1951 they moved to a farm north of Vona where they farmed for several years. In the mid fifties Ray and Lila started an upholstery business on the kitchen table of the little farm house. In 1958 they moved to Stratton and Stratton Upholstery was born. Ray later expanded to Stratton Sporting Goods and Lila continued to upholstery. During the 1960’s, Ray was Stratton Fire Chief. He bowled on Stratton Sporting Goods team in the league. He also belonged to a black powder club. He had many other endeavourers to many to mention. In the early 1990’s Ray and Lila decided to close the doors and retire. They had enjoyed meeting all the people and would miss the daily routine. He enjoyed traveling, hunting, fishing, camping, shooting black powder, archery, bowling and playing the guitar and harmonica. He and his band played for many dances over the years as Ray’s Ramblers. He loved his music. He was a member of the VFW, the American Legion, and the National Rifle Association. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one brother Dearl Jones and one sister Doris Kirkendall. He is survived by his two children Donna Fox and her husband Bob of Vona, Colorado and Ron Jones and his wife, Nedra of Farmington, New Mexico. He is also survived by five grandchildren, two step grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and four step great grandchildren, a niece Jan McMillan and her husband Scott and their family of California and a nephew Jerry Kirkendall and his wife Amelia of Hudson, Colorado, niece Bonnie Pizel and her husband Allen of Burlington, sister-in-laws Lela Briggs of Washington and her children Randy, Carney, and Sherry, Luella McArthur and her daughters Cathie and Carolyn, and Montclair Barb and her family. Ray will be deeply missed by his family and friends. He was loved so very much. Funeral services with Military Honors for Mr. Jones were held on Monday, July 14, 2008 at 4:00 PM at the Love Funeral Home in Burlington. Visitation was held on Sunday, July 13, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Love Funeral Home in Burlington. Memorials may be made in Ray’s name to the Stratton Ambulance and may be left at or sent to the Colorado East Bank and Trust in Stratton.