Jones, Gaylord (1918-2015)

JONES, MEIERS, GRAY, MOSHER, STERLING

Posted By: Colleen J Ossman (email)
Date: 4/2/2015 at 18:48:29

March 30, 2015
The Daily Freeman Journal

Gaylord Jones, 96, passed away March 27, 2015 peacefully following a slow decline in his health. Visitation will be held at Foster Funeral Home in Webster City Wednesday from 5-8 pm. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at the Eagle Grove United Methodist Church, with Pastors Heather Dorr and Jeff Flagg officiating. Burial will follow services at the French Cemetery, east of Woolstock. A reception will follow immediately at the Woolstock Hall.

Fred Gaylord Jones, son of George and Iva (Meiers) Jones, was born September 17, 1918. Gaylord developed his love of nature growing up in Woolstock spending time around Eagle Creek with his older brothers Bill and Dale. He began working in his father's John Deere dealership when he was 16; the business was founded by his grandfather, William T. Jones in 1870.

Gaylord married his high school sweetheart, Opal L. Gray, on June 4, 1939 in Paton. That was also the year he became a partner in the family dealership and sold his first tractor. They resided in Woolstock for over 65 years.

Gaylord joined the US Army during World War II, on February 24, 1943. He was assigned to an Army Air base outside of England where he supervised the loading and unloading of ordinance. He was honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant on November 23, 1945.

After the war, Gaylord built the business into one of the largest John Deere dealerships in the Midwest and won many sales award vacations. The first was within the US, then to the Caribbean Islands and finally to China, Europe and Australia. Gaylord retired and sold the business in 1995.

Once retired at the age of 76, after a distinguished 56 year career, Gaylord turned his zeal and drive with business towards conservation of land through establishing tree plantations. To date Gaylord has planted over 200,000 trees. Gaylord completed a Master Conservationist Program through I.S.U. and in 2008 was honored as Woodland Owner of the Year by the Iowa Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioners. His most recent lot of trees (28,000) was planted in 2011 with the help and supervision of his grandson. Rory continues his legacy with the love of timberland development and conservation.

Gaylord was known for his unbelievable memory and a smile upon his face among other things. Loves were playing piano, cards, and going dancing with his wife, Opal.

Gaylord is survived by two daughters, Kathryn Jones Mosher of Plano, TX and Candis Sue Jones of Woolstock; three grandchildren, Heather Sterling and Rory Sterling of Woolstock and Christina Mosher of Plano, TX.