Cecil Owen Jones

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our dad, grandpa and great grandpa on January 1 st , 2026 at the age of 85 years, due to complications from a stroke.

Dad was born on December 30th, 1940 to David and Vaughan Jones and grew up on the family farm in the Sight Hill district. He attended the Sight Hill School and then to town for High School. Dad loved the farm and even after him and his mom had moved to town he would be headed back to the farm the minute school was out on Fridays. Some times he got a ride, but lots of times he had to walk. He left school at the end of Grade 11 and went to work. He eventually moved to Brandon and worked at Wilton Motors. Him and mom were married August 17 th , 1963 and lived in Brandon until they decided in January of 1965 to pack up and move to California with friends of theirs. They stayed for a year, made some life long friends and then moved back to Manitoba and took up residence in Austin. Dad drove truck for JR Stephenson Transfer until they purchased the Solo Store in 1969 which they operated for almost 21 years.

They added to their family with the arrival of Patty in 1967 and Andrew in 1970. In 1974 dad realized his dream of owning his own farm and purchased a quarter section of land from Bill and Doris Clarkson 2 miles south of Austin. He farmed together with our Uncle Tom Lowe until 2009, renting land in various places as well as farming their own. In 1980 they started building the new house out at the farm and they lived there until the farm was sold to his grand daughter and her family in 2016 and they moved into Austin. Even after the farm was sold, dad could be found either out there puttering around or helping Daryl with things out at the home farm. He was happy to be able to help Daryl with harvest for a few more years although he wasn’t a huge fan of combining in those “godforsaken” hills that his grandpa had insisted on settling in. After they sold the store, dad had numerous part time jobs. He was the shop guy at the museum, drove truck, clerked for Nickel Auctions, worked potato harvest and drove a school bus among other things. Dad loved his family and was always so excited to find out that there was going to be another baby arriving for him to snuggle. He loved nothing better than a family camping trip with everyone there, sitting around the fire with a good drink of scotch and watching for the first star and satellites in the sky. He also loved to travel and him and mom took many trips to California, Hawaii, Mexico, Great Britian and Denmark, along with numerous trips out west and down south for a few winters. Community also meant a lot to dad and he spent years volunteering with various committees and organizations. He will be greatly missed in the community.

Dad is lovingly remembered by his wife Judy, daughter Patty (Kevin) Henry and family: Jill (Kyle) Currie and their children Blake and Olivia, Shawn(Shirley) and Baby Henry, Kolby , Kendall (Tanner Hayward) and their daughter Adalynn, son Andrew(Sandra) and family: Presley (Max McCulloch) and his children Xander and Grayson, Abby (Kyle Campion) and Carter(Masyn Bergman). Brother Marvin Jones, Sister Betty Mundle, Sister in laws Alice Jones, Lois Jones and Helen Johnson, Brother in laws Chuck Compton and Phil Johnson, many nieces, nephews and cousins and friends.

Dad was predeceased by his parents David and Vaughan, his brother Fred, sister in laws Beth Compton and Louise Weins and brother in laws Gordon Mundle and John Weins.

The family would like to thank the nurses and health care aides that cared for dad in the hospital during his stay there. We appreciate all you did for him.

A limb has fallen from our Family tree
We keep hearing a voice that says, Grieve not for me
Remember the best times, the laughter, the song
The good life I lived while I was strong
Continue my heritage, I’m counting on you.
Keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through.
My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest.
Remembering all, how truly I was blessed.
Continue traditions, no matter how small.
Go on with your life, don’t worry about falls
I miss you dearly, so keep up your chin, until the day comes
that we are together again.

You have left a huge hole in our hearts that will never mend, but we are so blessed for the time we got to spend with you.

You taught us so much and we will love you always.