Terry H. Jones of La Porte, Indiana, and Marco Island, Florida passed away on Saturday, January 20th, 2024 at his home in Marco Island, Florida.
He was born on April 1st, 1943, in La Porte, Indiana to Keith and Wilma (Hunt) Jones.
Terry graduated from La Porte High School in 1961 and was a proud “Slicer” all his life. In high school, he spent two summers traveling with the High School Band of America in Europe playing the stand-up bass. After high school, he attended Ball State University for one year. He then traveled for a couple of years with the Russ Carlisle Band playing his bass throughout the United States. He returned home to La Porte to work with his father and brother, Brian, in their family business which their father started, Screw Machine Products, Inc. later known as Jones Enterprises and NRP-Jones. Under Terry’s guidance, the company grew and expanded with the purchase of a hose factory in Nephi, Utah. When his father retired, Terry became president. Terry was very proud to serve his country in the Army Reserves from 1966 until he was honorably discharged. Throughout his lifetime, Terry served on numerous community boards giving his time and energy just like his parents. One close to his heart was the La Porte YMCA. Later on, the pool was named the Jones Pool because of the Jones Family's commitment over the years. Terry served on the La Porte Chamber of Commerce for many years as well. La Porte has always been a city that Terry loved. Terry was a Cubs fan, a fan of Indiana University basketball games, and he loved March Madness. He also loved spending time at our cottage on Gravel Lake in Michigan with our children and grandchildren and annual trips to Aruba. Joining the Island Country Club when we moved to Marco was something Terry will always cherish with the dear friends he has met over the past 12 years. He leaves behind so many close and dear friends and relatives who will miss him so much.
Terry is survived by his wife, Frances. They celebrated 45 years of marriage last November. He has one son, Ethan Jones of Valparaiso, and 3 daughters, Amy (Chris) Fewell of South Bend, Gillian (Rich) Waldo of New Carlisle, and Haley (Joe) Whicker of La Porte. Terry was blessed with 8 awesome grandchildren, Claire, Luke, and Zachary Fewell, Heny Jones, Jackson and Beau Waldo, and Ava and Isla Whicker. Terry was blessed to have a loving brother, Brian Jones of La Porte, and numerous relatives on the Jones, Hunt, and Rumely side.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents and numerous aunts and uncles.
The family would like to give a very special thank you to the following medical professionals who made Terry’s last years more enjoyable: Dr. James Pickford, Dr. James Flynn, Dr. Binh Tran, Dr. Ansari, and a very heartfelt thank you to the Avow Hospice medical staff: Nurses Giselle, Demarus, and Rachel who made Terry’s last hours comfortable.
Arrangements are entrusted to Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center in La Porte. The Jones family will have a Celebration of Terry’s Life on Saturday, May 18th, 2024, at Heston Hills Event Center for friends and relatives from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. A private family burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery at a later date.
Condolences may be made at www.cutlercares.com.
