George "GB" Jones

George “GB” Jones grew up in Linneus, Missouri, where he married his high school sweetheart and raised four children. He passed away Monday evening, April 4, 2022, surrounded by his children at the Parkway in Blue Springs, MO. He was 89 years old.

Born in Linneus, Missouri, George was the son of Noel Mack Jones and Florence Georganna Gish Jones. The family, including his older brother Calvin and twin sister Helen, moved from Bedford to Linneus when he was a young boy.

He graduated from Linneus High School in 1950, and attended MU for a semester before returning to Linneus to start his first business, a local produce store. He later joined forces with his father and brother to run Jones Transfer and Produce. In 1952 he married his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Noland, who also helped manage the family business. They raised their four children – one daughter and three sons – in Linneus.

In the late 1960s, the Jones Transfer and Produce closed and soon after George began his career with the State of Missouri. His experience running a small business made him an effective auditor and advocate for small businesses in north central Missouri. He retired in 1996 to travel and spend more time with family.

In 1999, after living in Linneus for nearly five decades, George and Kathy moved to Blue Springs, Missouri to be near the Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals, and a library for genealogical research on their families.

In 2012, the couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at a party in Lee’s Summit organized by their children. The invitation said: “It’s true – Mom and Dad have been married almost as long as Elizabeth II has been Queen of England! And we’re going to celebrate their journey by revisiting the many road trips, family vacations and excursions we’ve shared at their inspiration.” At the Jubilee Party, family and friends saw photographs from a lifetime of travel.

Every summer, George and Kathy, with their four children in tow, would set off on a family vacation to national and state parks in the west, including Yellowstone in Wyoming, and Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Pike’s Peak and the Royal Gorge in Colorado. Over the years, the family visited some national parks nearly two dozen times with children and grandchildren – Yosemite in California, Big Bend in Texas, Crater Lake in Oregon and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. They took road trips with friends to historical sites in Missouri. In 2011 George and Kathy traveled to England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales with their son Ed and his family, his first and only overseas trip.

During their travels around the country George and Kathy visited at least 17 baseball stadiums. They first went to Spring Training in Arizona in 1998 and continued to attend for many years. In the summer of 2014, they visited AT&T Park in San Francisco and were delighted that their favorite team, the Royals, made it to the World Series in 2014.

In addition to travel and sports, George and Kathy especially enjoyed spending time with friends and family. At these gatherings everyone came to expect that George would share at least one, and often many stories, always with a funny twist. In March he celebrated his 89th birthday with a video of family and friends, and alternately laughed and cried as he listened to their stories about him!

He was an active member of the Masonic Lodge and Past Master of Jackson Lodge #82 in Linneus. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Linneus, MO until 1999. After moving from Linneus, he and Kathy joined the First United Methodist Church in Blue Springs.

George is survived by daughter Diana of Portland, OR; two sons, Tom of Blue Springs, MO and Ed (Jerry) of Casper, WY; and brother Calvin Jones of Liberty, MO. He was preceded in death by twin sister Helen, in 1967; wife Kathy, in 2015 and their son Sam, in 2013.

He is survived by seven grandchildren: Emily Jones and Eric Jones of Scottsdale, AZ, Sidney Jones (John O’Brien) of Newmarket, NH, and Adam Jones of Switzerland, Hillary Claunch (Jeremy) of Columbia, MO, and Ryland Jones of St. Louis, MO, and Chormaic Sullivan of Mexico City. He also is survived by four great grandchildren: Quinn and Cole Wallace, and Samuel and Norah Claunch; and three cousins, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 21 in Elmwood Cemetery in Linneus. Dinner with the family will be held in the First Baptist Church immediately following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Elmwood Cemetery.

Condolences may be made at www.wright-funeralhome.com. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Home, Brookfield, MO at (660) 258-5050.

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