Maurice Jones, the second of three children born to Clarence and Addie Jones in Seattle, Washington on August 29, 1948 died in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 15, 2022 after suffering a heart attack while on vacation.
Known to his friends and loved ones as “Reese”, he spent several years in care with the Leaks family before spending a joyful and sometimes mischievous life growing up in the famous Seattle landmark of “Yesler Terrace”. His athletic skills in basketball were developed early as he spent many hours at the Yesler Terrace gym under the watchful eyes of staff. In high school, Jones was a star basketball player at West Seattle High School, where some say he could have gone on to NBA stardom.
In 1973, Jones decided on taking a gamble and made a trip to Alaska as a staff member of the newly opened Family House program as a drug treatment counselor. He made lifelong friends and helped many young people find a better life without drugs. In 1974, he met Jewel who became his life-long best friend and wife. They married on July 17, 1976 in Anchorage and looked forward to celebrating 46 years together this year. Jones had a number of interesting jobs ranging from donut maker (which lasted one week), to working for the State of Alaska Employment Service in a program designed to help minorities find jobs in oil services technology before moving into a completely new area at IBM Administration. His last working years were in the oil service industry on the North Slope of Alaska as a Roustabout.
Jones was a man who maintained faith and belief in the Lord. He never started a meal before thanking God for the gifts we were about to receive and ending the day acknowledging that God is Good – Always. He loved music of every genre, but Jazz was his “go to” anytime – anyplace. Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife Jewel, daughter Carmen, son Anthony, daughter Christina (Jean), brother Ronald, sister Teresa (Larry), sister Hillis (Melvin), nephew Jason (Camay), niece Rhonda, niece Allisha, nephew Cameron, cousin Gerald, and Godson Landre. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Addie and sister LaDonna.
The family thanks the wonderful ICU staff at Spring Valley Hospital for the around the clock care given to Jones.
Funeral services will be held on July 6 at Sunset Hills Funeral Home in Bellevue, Washington. Viewing will be from 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. Services will be at 1:00 p.m. Reverend Rick Barlow of Mount Zion Baptist Church will be the Officiant. Jones’ final resting place will be at the Anchorage Memorial Cemetery in Anchorage, Alaska.
