When Gary B. Jones grew up in Jonesville in the North Ward, he was known as Gary B. and not only was a scholastic student at Juab High, but starred in many of the School Plays and what we used to call "Road Shows", where each LDS ward throughout East Juab County, would put on a live show on stage, and it was a part of what the LDS Church would sponsor. Gary B. was tall and thin, much like his Uncle Vic Jones. When our father-Alma "Cash" Jones passed away in 1984, Gary B. took on the physical aspect of our Dad, almost instantly! Gary B. was not only an actor on the stage, but had a deep resounding voice that could be heard loud and clear even to the hard of hearing. He excelled in the Mt. Nebo FFA, not only in Speech Contests, but on the winning State Parliamentary Procedure Contest. He was active in the LDS Church, and worked his way to the top, receiving his Eagle Scout Degree. He then became a good friend of Lynn Esplin, who was the Juab County Agent. If that wasn't enough, he became one of the head leaders of Camp Maple Dell, and worked there each Summer, while not attending BYU and Utah State. Then on to an LDS Mission to the downunder country where seeing a Kangaroo was part of the glamour of what he enjoyed doing. He remains active in that religion. Although Nephi remains his hometown, and while his siblings would like to see him closer, each of us have tried to explain Nephi is not Nephi anymore, with many move ins, that it is no longer the friendly rural town it was when five of us kids were constantly busy doing chores, and not paid for those duties, as it was just something we did and grateful to have food on the table. Gary B. answered the call from Uncle Sam, and during the Viet Nam Era, his older brother, who was in the Air Force, wondered why Gary jumped out of a perfectly good plane. Gary B. was an Army Ranger, and a good one at that. He was self taught how to hide under dirt and bushes to shoot the biggest buck around, so doing that as a Ranger was nothing. Once home, he went to work for Western Airlines and followed when it was bought out by Delta Airlines. He jumped on a plane for the airport under the Northern Lights of Alaska. On his off days, he would work as a fish and game hunting guide. I went up there to be with him on a bear hunt. When he picked up the trail of a bodily excretion remains. I was glad to get back to his place on the Iditarod Trail. He then retired from the airlines and the National Guard, and started with his bottle of pennies and got into the sled dog racing. I didn't know how to spell or say the race, until he explained it like Mrs. Lomax would do. "I DIT A ROD". I then returned another year to take care of his Kennel while he raced. It is only a thousand miles! With a prior Subdural Hematoma, certain noises affect my brain, such as barking dogs, but like parents getting accustomed to their crying babies, I wasn't bothered by his barking dogs, as they were his pride and joy. And in Alaska, he is a well known "Musher" and has written several books, all on motivational subjects.He has just came out with the Third Printing of "Winning The Iditarod" which should be available at the Nephi Library. G.B. Jones never married, but when he turned 70, he felt bad about a young boy that his mother or father didn't want, so G.B. Jones became the adopted father. In talking with him on the phone, one could feel the pressure of raising a kid that is now a "Holy Hell" Teenager. Our Dad survived and so will our tall brother.
No comments:
Post a Comment