Former Milford resident David W. Jones, son of Wayne & Betty (Youngberg) Jones, was born June 1, 1951, in Kearney,and died of cancer June 22, 2024, at his home with family in rural Poulsbo, Washington, at the age of 73.
Dave was the oldest of three children, including brother, Steve, and sister, Sue, living in southwest Kearney. He attended Kenwood Elementary School and graduated from Kearney High School in 1969, where he was proudly one of the original rowdies of the “The Rowdy Section'' at KHS. Dave served honorably in the U.S. Navy from 1971-75 aboard the USS Saratoga and the USS Independence. After Dave's service, he returned home to Kearney and worked as a carpenter and rural mail carrier.
Dave married Marcia McShannon on Jan. 20, 1978. To this union were born a daughter, Sarah, and a son, Mattthew. The Jones family lived in rural Kearney until Dave graduated from Kearney State College in 1987 with a business degree. He then moved his family to Milford, where he was employed in nearby Lincoln for 20 years as a construction estimator.
Dave was a strong family man and enjoyed sharing outdoor activities with his family. During his children’s young years, he was an active supporter of his son's and daughter's activities. He was also a scout leader for Troop #290 of Milford for many years and a member of the Milford Methodist Church.
Retirement in 2015 found Dave and Marcia moving to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Poulsbo, Washington, to join their growing family. For eight years, they enjoyed daily backgammon and cribbage games, gardening, geocaching and taking drives along the tree-lined water views of Puget Sound, near their Washington home. Dave was also Marcia’s “wingman” for all the fun family thematic family birthday parties.
Sarah enjoyed seeing her dad as “Grandpa Jones” with grandsons, Sebastian and Asher. They gave Grandpa Jones hours of fun playing board games, cards, chess and attending their sports activities. Son, Matt, enjoyed the construction team work with his dad on deck and fencing projects for Dave’s home, and watching Seahawks games together. Dave was also a loyal Husker fan, attending Kitsap Huskers "watch parties" in Wahington.
Dave is survived by his wife, Marcia of Poulsbo; daughter, Sarah, and son-in-law Jeff; grandsons, Sebastian and Asher of Bainbridge Island, Washington; son, Matt of Seattle, Washington; sister, Sue (Dale) Shenamen of Oxford; sister-in-laws, Phyllis (Alan) Dingman of Yankton, South Dakota, and Joyce (Chuck) Eckhardt of Crofton; brother-in-law, Mark McShannon of Osceola, Wisconsin; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Betty Jones, and brother, Steve Jones.
Plans are being made for a private family scattering of ashes in Washington, a memorial service in Kearney and interment in Bloomfield in the fall. Arrangements by Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island, Washington.