Jonesy Jones

Lilburn “Jonesy” Jones died Sept. 4, 2016. He was 91.

He was in Newburyport, Mass., on March 27, 1925, to G. Howard Murley and Louise May Jones.

Jonesy was an honored member of the Tenth Mountain Division who served in Italy during World War II. As a sergeant, he was proud to have brought all his men home safely.

Taking advantage of the GI Bill, he headed west, first graduating from Lassen Junior College, then Chico State, where he met and married Donna Marie Elliott.

With skiing in his blood, he relocated to the mountains, working in various aspects of the ski business, including ski instructor, ski patrol, and finally mountain manager at Heavenly Valley Ski Resort. He worked to open the first ski lift at Mt. Shasta, served as ski patrol leader at Squaw Valley, and helped create the first 10-year master plan at Heavenly Valley with the assistance of Robert Shedd. He also wrote the master plan for Kirkwood Ski Area and was instrumental in establishing Silver Basin Ski Area, now known as Iron Mountain.

An avid skier and mountain man, he liked nothing better than to be out in nature, sniffing the breezes, and watching wildlife.

Jonesy is survived by his wife of 62 years, Donna, daughters Louisa and Carroll-Sue, and grandsons Marcale and Brandon.

Honoring Jonesy’s wishes there are no services scheduled for this time. Donations may be made in his name to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care.