DAVID LAWRENCE JONES

Wasilla resident David Lawrence Jones, 69, died at his residence on April 20, 2002.

A service was held at 2 p.m. Thursday, at Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla. A visitation was held an hour prior to the service. Interment, with military honors, will be at Wasilla Aurora Cemetery.

Mr. Jones was born Oct. 14, 1932, in Fargo, N.D., to Lawrence and Dorothy Jones.

He entered the Air Force in 1951 and served in Korea until 1952. He married Janice Schermerhorn in 1961 and had four children, Jacqueline, Larry, David and Tim.

He had been employed as a truck driver for Midwest Motor Express for 32 years. He owned and operated many different businesses over the years, including Suzuki of Fargo, Midway Motel in Fargo, and Northside Retirement Home in Moorhead, Minn. The family moved to Alaska in July 1982. While here, Mr. Jones owned Clydesdale Construction, the Eklutna Lodge and Motel, and managed Wildwood East and Square 89 Apartments. In 1990, the Joneses returned to Minnesota to manage the Villa Retirement Home in Hawley. In 1998 Mr. Jones retired from the retirement home and returned to Alaska.

He had many interests over the years, including taking his sons to race dirt bikes, karate tournaments, and learning how to fly. He loved reading, fishing and spending time with his new great-granddaughter.

Mr. Jones' family said, "David was a great man. He truly loved his family and would do anything for them. He was always generous with everything he owned. David was a very smart man and had many different interests over the years. He could do anything he tried. We all love him very much. He will be missed very much."

He was preceded in death by his wife, Janice Jones; parents, Lawrence Jones and Dorothy McLaughlin; and infant daughter, Jacqueline Mae Jones.

Surviving are sons and daughters-in-law, Lawrence and Charlene Jones, David and Sarah Jones, of Anchorage, and Timothy and Carolyn Jones of Willow; legal daughter/granddaughter, Kayla Jones of Houston; sisters, Donna Heleglien of South Dakota, Jackie Carr of Texas; brother, Monte Jones of North Dakota; stepmother, Carrie Jones of North Dakota; grandchildren, Nicole Teigen, David Jones, Matthew Jones, Tabitha Jones, Trista Cullington,

Timothy Jones, Natasha Jones, Jaclyn Jones and Lawrence Jones; great-granddaughter, Tanna Lerner; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial cards and donations may be sent to the family in care of Valley Funeral Home, 151 E. Herning Ave., Wasilla, AK 99654.