In Memoriam

Photo by Patrick Jones. Keith D. Jones, 11 Jun 2015.

How do you condense a full life down to a few paragraphs? I struggled with this to write a tribute for my Dad, who died at home on Friday evening after battling pancreatic cancer. Ultimately my Mom and sister updated my draft tribute into a fitting memoriam page on Dad's website, SailingAfternoons. I have copied the text below, along with a few of the photos collected by my sister for the tribute page.

Photo by L. Jones. Dad kayaking on the Potomac.

Keith Douglas Jones (Doug), 70, took his last voyage and sailed on from this world on 2 September 2016. He had a great love for sailing and boat building. Over his lifetime, he demonstrated his passion by building and renovating many different boats, from small wooden boat models to flatiron skiffs. He loved teaching others the art of woodworking through boat building, as well as just teaching others to sail. He will be missed. 

Doug, the son of Keith DeWitt Jones and Blanche Allene O'Brien, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on 12 August 1946.  Doug was a 1965 graduate of North Central High School. He married Barbara A. Reid in August 1968 and they enjoyed 48 years of marriage. He served as a staff sergeant in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War, servicing aircraft engines in Thailand and Laos. After the war, Doug attended Sam Houston State University and Purdue University.

Doug worked at Allison Engine Company in Indianapolis and continued after it was acquired by Rolls Royce Aircraft, serving as Director of Technical Training.  He often traveled around the world, teaching aircraft engine maintenance for airline companies.  He retired after 31 years of service.

His great love was sailing and boat building. Doug received his Captain's License from the US Coast Guard and built many boats over the years around the US. He combined his love of boats and teaching by offering classes at Eagle Creek Reservoir, Lake Lemon, the Indiana State Museum and Johnson County Museum in Indiana and at Leesylvania State Park in Virginia. In 2015, Doug published his book How to Build a FlatIron Skiff (Schiffer Publishing/Cornell Maritime Press), based on using traditional methods and tools and without toxic glues.

Doug is remembered for his years of dedication to teaching, at Allison/Rolls Royce, local parks and lakes. He had a gift for storytelling and an uncommon ability to strike up a conversation with anyone. He is survived by his wife Barbara A. Jones, son Patrick Jones (Allison), daughter Laura Jones, and grandchildren Sophia Jones and Silas Jones. 

In lieu of flowers, the family of Keith Douglas Jones requests donations be made to the IU Simon Cancer Center for Pancreatic Cancer. Please make memorial gifts payable to IU Foundation/Pancreatic Cancer Research. Please indicate “In memory of Keith Douglas Jones” on your gift. Mail to: IU Simon Cancer Center, PO Box 7072, Indianapolis, IN 46207
Or
Fisher House /Washington DC VA Medical Center, Voluntary Service (135), 50 Irving Street NW, Washington, DC 20422. Please indicate “In memory of Keith Douglas Jones” on your gift.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Dad and Laura working on a stand-up paddle board.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Dad at the Indiana State Museum.