Jay Jones

Jay Herbert Jones Jr., 75,  passed away on June 14, 2014, in Missoula.

He was born Oct. 22, 1938, the son of Jay and Ellen Jones, in Bruce, Wis. He graduated from Coburg High in Coburg, Ore. and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1956.

Jay married Virginia “Marnea” Barnhart on Oct. 30, 1958, and together they had three children, Virgil in 1960, Troy in 1962, and Sheila in 1963.  They resided in Coburg until 1971 when the family moved to Columbia Falls.

Jay worked in the timber industry his entire career, retiring from Plum Creek as a shipping supervisor. After retirement Jay and Marnea moved to Plains where they resided on the Clark Fork River for 10 years. In 2010, they returned to Columbia Falls.

Jay was a member of the Christian Missionary Alliance Church for over 30 years, was a member of the Gideon’s and was involved with the children’s ministry of the church.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marnea; brothers Marden, Dale and Doug; sister Nancy; son Troy; daughter Sheila Hoblyn and her husband Gary; granddaughters, Kristel, Danielle, Jessica Nieves and her husband Brad, and Meghan; grandsons Jonathan Ringdahl and his wife Karina, Nicholas Jones and his wife Veronika, Josiah and Jacob; daughter-in-law Peggy; six great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and extended families.

A memorial service will be held at the Fellowship Alliance Church in Columbia Falls on Saturday, June 21, at 1 p.m. Interment will be at the Fairview Cemetery followed by a reception at Fellowship Alliance. In honor of Jay, the family invites everyone to wear jeans and Western attire.

In lieu of flowers or any other gifts of consolation, donations may be sent to Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville TN 37214-0800; or Fellowship Alliance Church, P.O. Box 148, Columbia Falls MT 59912 (designate Youth Ministry).