David Sullivan Jones passed away peacefully in his sleep at the Veterans Hospital in Portland Saturday, Dec 5, with family by his side.
David was born June 6, 1935, the middle child of 12 children born to Jesse J. Jones and Dora J. Jones (Yarbor). He was the last of the kids to be born in Burns, as the family moved to Merlin, near Grants Pass. As a teen boy in those days, he helped on the homestead and worked in the hop fields along the river. He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War, and spent two years in Korea as a heavy equipment operator in the 7th Infantry 13 Engineer Battalion, stationed at Camp Casey Korea.
After returning home, he met Dorothy L. Hurst (Hodges), a widowed mother of two, Judy and Jack. They were married in 1961. David made a living for the family in the vast lumber industry and raising horses. In July of 1961, their first child together, Denise Sue, joined the family. In 1965, David and Dorothy lost a son after birth. In 1967, the family moved from Wolf Creek to the Merlin area, where David worked for Kabax Lumber in Cave Junction.  In April of 1970, David and Dorothy had a son, Kelly Lou. David was an avid horseman, which involved his children and all who were around him. David was also a hunter, and hunting every year was his gift. He could find elk, deer, or bear anywhere!
David is survived by his step-daughter, Judy Jones and husband, Kim of Blaine, Wash.; daughter, Denise Goguen and husband, Dave of Grants Pass; son, Kelly Jones and wife, Lori of Heppner; grandchildren, Brandi Haycraft of Grants Pass, Heather Sciurba of Klamath Falls, Bailey and Courtney Jones of Lewiston, Idaho; and great-grandchildren, Logan, Landon and Amelia. David is also survived by brother, Jay M. Jones; and sisters, Marian Eggers of Grants Pass and Clarice (Tyke) Boatman of Hermiston.
David was preceded in death by his mother and father; four brothers; four sisters; stepson, Jack (Melvin L. Hurst); and Jack’s mother, Dorothy.