Howard E. Jones

Howard, 91, passed away on February 9, 2021. Howard was born in Williamsburg, Iowa to Ralph and Ella Jones. Howard graduated from Williamsburg Public Schools and attended Denver University (DU) and graduated in 1952. He served with the Colorado Air National Guard from 1942 to 1950. He married his childhood sweetheart, Margaret Behrens, in 1950. They had three children: Scott, Kent, and Karen. After graduation from DU, Howard was involved with banking at the Brighton State Bank, U.S. National Bank, and the National City Bank in the Denver area.
In 1955 Howard moved to Ft. Collins, Co. where he and his brother-In-law, Mack McClaran, purchased Steele Lumber Company, which they owned until 1969. He continued in private business and the management of commercial properties throughout his life. He was involved in everything from commercial banking to bank auditor, from owning a building supply business to building motels and land development. Howard was President of the Crestview Water Association; President of the Ft. Collins Contractors Association; Director of the Denver Reserve Supply Co; Director and President of the Mountain State Lumber Dealers Association. Howard served for twenty-two years on the Curtis Trust, which paid medical bills of needy children; was Chairman of the Foundation Board of Foothills Gateway, which serves developmentally disadvantaged children; and helped the Ft. Collins Elks club create a trust fund to provide college scholarships.
Howard’s community service also included being an advisory board member for the Colorado Boys Ranch: ten years of service to The Boy Scouts of America, which included District Chairman of the Eagle Board of Review, an honorary life memberships of the Ft. Collins Elks Lodge, and sixty-eight years as a Mason.
In 1991 Howard married Kathy Dietz in Ft Collins, CO. They moved to Sun City West in 1997 where he promptly got involved with the PORA Water Committee, Volunteer Prides community service organization and volunteered with the Sun Health Hospital Auxiliary. Howard and Kathy loved traveling and taking long driving trips throughout the USA and month-long vacations using the European train system. Howard loved opera, dancing, reading, meeting new people, and playing bridge.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, his sister Ruth McClaren, and his daughter Karen Walters. He leaves behind his loving wife of twenty-nine years, Kathy Jones, her two children Leigh Shideler and Jeff Dietz, son Scott Jones, ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be given to St. Mary’s Foodbank, 2831 N. 31St Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009.