Jim Jones

James "Jim" W. Jones, 90, of Mountain Home, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, at home, following an illness.

Jim requested no services. Cremation is under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Jim was born Sept. 17, 1922, the youngest of three children to William Henry and Nannie Jones of Birmingham, Ala. During high school he excelled in sports and worked in the iron ore mines.

After graduating from Jones Valley High School in 1942, Jim worked for the FBI in Washington, D.C., in the Identification Division.

He then joined the US Navy where he was an Aviation Radioman and flew PBYs in the Pacific Theater.

In 1945, prior to his discharge from the Navy, he met the love of his life, Loretta, at a USO dance while on leave in San Diego. They were married that year and enjoyed 66 years of marriage until her passing in December of 2010.

In 1946 Jim attended the University of Alabama and studied pre-law. Two years later he joined the U.S. Army and worked until his retirement in 1965 as a chief warrant officer in the Criminal Investigations Division. Jim spent the next 30 years as an agent for State Farm Insurance.

Jim had many interests. He was an avid photographer and enjoyed fishing at his favorite spot, Strike Dam. He had a black belt in judo and was a big supporter of the Optimist Little League Football program. Jim was a lifelong learner. He took courses all through life and received his bachelor of arts degree in social sciences from BSU in 1972.

He was involved in many civic and community clubs and organizations. His greatest passion, though ,was politics. In the early 1990s he spent time as a member of the Idaho Legislature and never tired of the good political debate.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Candie Hall, grandsons Jeremy Hall and his wife, Cristi, and Shane Hall, great-grandchildren Gillian, Alex, Caitilyn and Makayla Hall, all of Caldwell, his sister, Engles, of Alabama, sister-in-laws Margie Jones of Alabama, June Scarfone of Portland, Ore., numerous nieces and nephews, and many wonderful "red barn office" friends and neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Carl and loving wife Loretta.

Special thanks to Dr. Koelsch, Elmore Long Term Care Unit and Accent Hospice for their kindness.

Memorials may be sent to the Idaho Commission for Libraries, Talking Book Service, 325 W. State St., Boise, ID 83702, or the Mountain Home Optimist Little League Football Program, P.O. Box 1131, Mountain Home, ID 83647, in Jim's honor.