Obituary - Ernest Jones 84

Ernest Martin "Ernie" Jones, the second child of Lydia Anna (Mattson) and Guy Loris Jones, was born on the homestead north of Kit Carson, Colorado on

August 1, 1919. He left this earth on August 12, 2003, at the Cheyenne Manor in Cheyenne Wells.

Ernie attended school in Kit Carson and graduated with the class of 1937.

He had a job during high school working for Joe Carrigan, milking cows in the morning and evening and working four horses in the field all day. He earned 50 cents a day and room and board. In the summer of 1936, Ernie loaded gravel trucks north of Cheyenne Wells for 50 cents an hour. He said that was more money than he knew what to do with, but he learned pretty fast.

After graduating from high school, he worked horses on a ranch for William Rhoades I. In 1938, he went to La Junta to work as a bellboy in the Fred Harvey House. He didn’t care much for that job and stayed only a few months. He also worked at a dairy in Pueblo, delivering milk door-to-door. Ernie worked for Charles Collins when he returned to kit Carson. In order to pay his tuition at an aircraft school in Wichita, Kansas, he sold his 1937 Ford. With WWII looming, Ernie enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed in a number of places throughout the United States and in 1942 was sent to northern Africa where he stayed for two and one-half years. Ernie was discharged from the Air Force in 1945.

Ernie and Eleanor Bratkovic were married in Savannah, Georgia on April 8, 1945. They moved to the Jones homestead in Kit Carson, where Ernie helped on the family farm. The farm was sold in October of 1946 and they moved into Kit Carson. In 1947, Ernie and his brother, Vern, bought the K.C. Café, which they ran until 1949. Ernie and Eleanor then purchased a general store and café. They retired and sold their business, "The Jones Store, in 1985.

Ernie was a dedicated civil servant. His many positions included city clerk, city councilman, Chamber of Commerce president, secretary-treasurer of the cemetery board, and Kit Carson Historical Society president. He served 7 years on the Council of Governments, 15 years on the REA board and 12 years as the Mayor of Kit Carson. Ernie worked tirelessly on many town projects including the curb and gutter project, the water tower, and the town water system. He helped Kit Carson get its first ambulance and used his own 1958 station wagon as an ambulance many times before Kit Carson had its own.

Ernie and Eleanor raised three children: Toni, Mike and Cindy. Toni and her husband Steve Schreivogel live in Westminster, and have two children, Justin and Tiffany. Mike and his wife Rae Marie live in Bigfork, Montana and have three children, Meagan. Laith and Brock. Cindy and her husband Ed Harold live in Weskan, Kansas and have two children, Tatum and Nathan.

Preceding Ernie in death were his parents, his baby sister Lila, his sister Bernice and his brother Laverne. He is survived by his wife Eleanor his children and grandchildren, his sister Lillian Zimmerman, and brother-in-law Robert Zimmerman, sisters-in-law Opal Jones and Marge Nuttall, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Ernie was a self-taught carpenter who enjoyed remodeling and puttering in his woodship. He awa alswys available to help others with his handyman skills. Ernie loved to go bowling. He was an avid rock and arrowhead hunter. He was a wonderful cook and he loved to eat! In his later years, Ernie was a familiar sight walking around Kit Carson wearing his safari hat, with his faithful companion, Napoleon.

Ernie had many wonderful qualities but will be remembered most for his friendliness, sense of humor, intelligence, ethics, generosity, industriousness, and loyalty. His motto was "If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well." His pride and joy was his family. He could not talk about them without getting tears in his eyes.

Today, with tears in our eyes, and love in our hearts, we say, "We love you dear dad, well done."

Funeral services for Ernest Martin Jones were held on Saturday, August 16, 2003 at the United Methodist Church in Kit Carson, with Rev. Michael Ingersoll officiating. Marilyn Bullock was the pianist. Ernie's son-in-law also played a special rendition of "Just A Closer Walk With Thee". Casket bearers were: Nate Harold, Brock Jones Laith Jones and Justin Schreivogel. Honorary casket bearers were: Clarence Weber, Allen Naugle, George Lichtenhahn, Darrel Schallenberger, Herman Schreivogel and Glen Getman. Military graveside honors were performed by the Kit Carson V.F.W. Post. Funeral services were under the direction of the Brown Funeral Home.