Funeral services for Maurice Jones of Chadron, Nebraska will be held on Wednesday,
August 19, 2015 at 10:00 AM at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron with Reverend Al Trucano
officiating. There will be a viewing at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at Chamberlain
Chapel. Interment will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery.
Maurice William Jones was born June 7, 1923, to John Preston Jones and Altha (Hull)
Jones at Holt County Nebraska in the Meek Community.
Maurice attended grade school in the Meek Community until the 8th grade and
then was employed by various farmers in the community until the age of 16 when he was
encouraged by his Uncle Guy and Aunt Mamie Jones to move to Chadron, Nebraska where
they told him they would find him a job which would pay more than the fifteen dollars per
month that he was paid in his home community. Maurice took the train from O’Neill to
Chadron and went to work on the Beaver Ranch for Wendell Beaver for $30.00 per month.
At the age of 19, Maurice married Lorene Bernice Varvel of Chadron on June 19,
1942 with Lorene’s brother, Jim Varvel, as best man, and Jim’s fiancé, Elvera Rasmussen,
as bridesmaid. The couple settled in Sheridan County in the Beaver Valley Community on
the Sterns’ farm where they lived and raised five children.
After retiring from farming, Maurice and Lorene moved to Hay Springs, Nebraska
where they were both active members of the Hay Springs Methodist Church and the
Order of the Eastern Star. Maurice was also an active member of the Masonic Lodge in
Hay Springs and was awarded his 60 year membership pin in June of this year. In 2010,
Maurice and Lorene moved to Prairie Pines in Chadron, Nebraska.
Maurice was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather and always
enjoyed showing his grandchildren his farm and cattle. He also enjoyed hunting with his
grandsons.
In his spare time, Maurice enjoyed having coffee with his “coffee buddies” at the
Senior Center in Hay Springs, Nebraska and spent many hours playing bridge and pitch
with friends and family.
Maurice passed away on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at the Crestview Care Center in
Chadron, Nebraska. He was 92 years of age.
Maurice was preceded in death by his daughter, Teresa (Jones) Poe; brother,
James Milo Jones; sisters, Mabel (Jones) Devall, Lucille (Jones) Griffith, Ava (Jones)
Crumly; and brother-in-law, Jim Varvel.
Survivors include his wife, Lorene, of Chadron, Nebraska; daughter, Sheryl
(Melvin) Bruns of Chadron, Nebraska; son, Leonard (Roma) Jones of Fort Collins, Colorado;
son, Bernard (Carolyn) Jones of Chadron, Nebraska; daughter, Lois (Bruce) Chizek of
Chadron, Nebraska; son-in-law, Robert Poe of Connersville, Indiana; brother, Merle (Karen)
Jones of Lincoln, Nebraska; sisters: Edwina Walter of Chambers, Nebraska and Jenine
Fridley of Mt. Sterling, Illinois; sister-in-law: Elvera Varvel of Chadron, Nebraska; nine
grandchildren: Jay Bruns, Matthew Jones, Jeff Bruns, Marklyn Jones, Jesse Jones, Micah
Jones, Roger Jones, Michaela Weedin, and Rebecca Poe; ten great-grandchildren: Caden,
Jackson, Ella, Bennett, Carter, Emily, Molly, Meghan, Elizabeth, and Luke; and numerous
nieces and nephews.
A memorial has been established for the Chadron or Hay Springs Rescue Units..
Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.
Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.