.jpg)
Masonic services will be at 11:45 am before the visitation. Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church in Adrian, PO Box 125, Adrian, MO 64720.
Melvin was born February 8,1930 to Troy and Minnie May (Acord) Jones in Dutton, AR. He grew up in the hills around Dutton, enjoying life with his seven living siblings, five brothers and two sisters. They would climb trees, swing from grapevines, swim in the White River, throw rocks at each other, and tend to their livestock and pets. He was the youngest, so his brothers always let him tag along. Those Jones boys were known for a little mischief; there are even stories of moonshine, revenuers, and drunk pigs. They did not have a car so they rode horses everywhere they went.
He attended Liberty school, a one room school up the hill from Dutton. He loved to square dance, fish, and hunt wild hogs, coons, rabbits, and squirrels. The brothers had been known to smoke a squirrel out of a tree in the Boston mountains of Arkansas. He enjoyed helping his folks make sorghum molasses. His first job was for the logging company nearby in Pettigrew, AR.
In 1953, he joined the US Army and served at Fort Bliss during the Korean War. He made lifelong friends and always kept in touch with them. On February 19, 1955, he married Macel and together they moved to Kansas City, MO, to begin a long, beautiful life. He worked for Allied Signal (Bendix) for 36 years in the Plating Department 97. In March 1957, Melvin joined the Mulberry Masonic Lodge in Oark, AR. In March of 1964, he moved to rural Adrian where he bought an 80 acre farm. Melvin, along with the girls, enjoyed raising cattle, horses, dogs, and cats. He and Macel worked side by side in the hayfields, building fences, and gardening. They always had a beautiful garden. Since 1964, he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Adrian and served on the local township road board. He served as a deacon for 30 plus years and had a few stories he could tell - the one of the raccoon in the sanctuary comes to mind.
When grandchildren arrived, he became "Papaw". He was the absolute best papaw. He was always carrying a toddler on his shoulders or rocking them to sleep. He loved giving them rides on his tractors and 4-wheelers. He would take them hunting and fishing. He enjoyed hunting for morel mushrooms and buckeyes, which he carried in his pocket every day for luck and for hikes on the "back forty". Most importantly, he never turned down a game of baseball in the backyard. He would pitch as long as you hit the ball back to him and he did not have to bend to get it. He treasured sitting with Mamaw outside on a warm summer evening watching grandchildren and great-grandchildren play.
Melvin will be remembered as quite a character. He would speak his mind and was quick with a good southern quip. He always had a smile on his face. Others strived to be a good person around Melvin and if you were not, he might say, "you may not be a chicken "you know what", but you do have hen house ways".
He was the best girl dad ever. He would put the girls on big horses to run around barrels or help halter break FFA steers they showed at the fair. Melvin and Macel worked hard for everything they had. He never stopped working and never complained. He admired all of his neighbors and would involve them on his adventures. When water flooded the road, he would have them help him find new ways to get across. He watched out for the neighbor kids as they sledded down the hill on their gravel road. He hardly ever missed a sporting event for his grandchildren, while still keeping his cattle farm going strong.
Melvin is preceded in death by his wife, E. Macel Jones; five brothers; and three sisters. He is survived by his daughters: Michelle (Charles) Myers of Lee's Summit, MO; and Sharon (David) Knuth of Adrian, MO; grandchildren: Amber (Brandon) Yount, Jordan (Lindsey) Myers, Cody (Laneah) Knuth and Kyle (Maddy) Knuth; 6 great-grandchildren: Haley, Dylan and Beck Yount; Charlotte and Levi Myers; and Emmett and Piper Knuth; his nephew, Troy Combs, who lived years with them and was like a son; and many more nieces and nephews that he loved.
A special thank you to Promedica Hospice and Tiffany, Laurie, and Jamie who became like family the past few years and poured their love for Melvin into the care they gave him. Their kindness and sweet manner was appreciated.
Melvin was born February 8,1930 to Troy and Minnie May (Acord) Jones in Dutton, AR. He grew up in the hills around Dutton, enjoying life with his seven living siblings, five brothers and two sisters. They would climb trees, swing from grapevines, swim in the White River, throw rocks at each other, and tend to their livestock and pets. He was the youngest, so his brothers always let him tag along. Those Jones boys were known for a little mischief; there are even stories of moonshine, revenuers, and drunk pigs. They did not have a car so they rode horses everywhere they went.
He attended Liberty school, a one room school up the hill from Dutton. He loved to square dance, fish, and hunt wild hogs, coons, rabbits, and squirrels. The brothers had been known to smoke a squirrel out of a tree in the Boston mountains of Arkansas. He enjoyed helping his folks make sorghum molasses. His first job was for the logging company nearby in Pettigrew, AR.
In 1953, he joined the US Army and served at Fort Bliss during the Korean War. He made lifelong friends and always kept in touch with them. On February 19, 1955, he married Macel and together they moved to Kansas City, MO, to begin a long, beautiful life. He worked for Allied Signal (Bendix) for 36 years in the Plating Department 97. In March 1957, Melvin joined the Mulberry Masonic Lodge in Oark, AR. In March of 1964, he moved to rural Adrian where he bought an 80 acre farm. Melvin, along with the girls, enjoyed raising cattle, horses, dogs, and cats. He and Macel worked side by side in the hayfields, building fences, and gardening. They always had a beautiful garden. Since 1964, he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Adrian and served on the local township road board. He served as a deacon for 30 plus years and had a few stories he could tell - the one of the raccoon in the sanctuary comes to mind.
When grandchildren arrived, he became "Papaw". He was the absolute best papaw. He was always carrying a toddler on his shoulders or rocking them to sleep. He loved giving them rides on his tractors and 4-wheelers. He would take them hunting and fishing. He enjoyed hunting for morel mushrooms and buckeyes, which he carried in his pocket every day for luck and for hikes on the "back forty". Most importantly, he never turned down a game of baseball in the backyard. He would pitch as long as you hit the ball back to him and he did not have to bend to get it. He treasured sitting with Mamaw outside on a warm summer evening watching grandchildren and great-grandchildren play.
Melvin will be remembered as quite a character. He would speak his mind and was quick with a good southern quip. He always had a smile on his face. Others strived to be a good person around Melvin and if you were not, he might say, "you may not be a chicken "you know what", but you do have hen house ways".
He was the best girl dad ever. He would put the girls on big horses to run around barrels or help halter break FFA steers they showed at the fair. Melvin and Macel worked hard for everything they had. He never stopped working and never complained. He admired all of his neighbors and would involve them on his adventures. When water flooded the road, he would have them help him find new ways to get across. He watched out for the neighbor kids as they sledded down the hill on their gravel road. He hardly ever missed a sporting event for his grandchildren, while still keeping his cattle farm going strong.
Melvin is preceded in death by his wife, E. Macel Jones; five brothers; and three sisters. He is survived by his daughters: Michelle (Charles) Myers of Lee's Summit, MO; and Sharon (David) Knuth of Adrian, MO; grandchildren: Amber (Brandon) Yount, Jordan (Lindsey) Myers, Cody (Laneah) Knuth and Kyle (Maddy) Knuth; 6 great-grandchildren: Haley, Dylan and Beck Yount; Charlotte and Levi Myers; and Emmett and Piper Knuth; his nephew, Troy Combs, who lived years with them and was like a son; and many more nieces and nephews that he loved.
A special thank you to Promedica Hospice and Tiffany, Laurie, and Jamie who became like family the past few years and poured their love for Melvin into the care they gave him. Their kindness and sweet manner was appreciated.
