Kenneth Gary Jones, 82, of Ocala, FL, passed away on April 8 at his home in Ocala of natural causes.
Ken, as his friends called him, grew up in Lindenhurst, NY. After some time at East Tennessee State College, he joined the United States Coast Guard in 1963 and was based in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he also played Semi-professional football for the Tampa Blazers. After faithfully serving the USCC, Ken began a 30-plus-year career with the Florida Power Corporation. Ken worked for FPC in St. Pete, Dunnellon, and in Ocala.
Ken was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching and coaching his children and later his grandchildren at all of their sporting activities. While playing competitive softball on various Crystal River and Marion County travel teams, Ken also enjoyed boating/floating down the Rainbow River, building projects around the house, officiating high school football with the Mid Florida Official’s Association, and assisting the girls’ basketball teams and coaches at Vanguard and Forest High Schools. Later in life, Ken split time between his Villages and Ocala homes, visiting with friends and socializing at restaurants, most notably “Terry’s Place”. Ken, although stubborn at times, was a kind man who always made time to listen and encourage those closest to him.
Ken is survived by two children, Daryl Jones and his wife Donna Jones of Thomasville, GA, Jennifer Jones of New Hope, PA; six grandchildren, Marlee Jones and her fiancé Brad Hill, Annslee Mullins and her husband Matthew Mullins, Zachary Jones, Morgan Amberson Lauricella and her husband Andrew Lauricella, Logan Amberson and Reagan Amberson; he was also a surrogate father figure to Laurel Anderson, and a grandfather figure to her children, Thomas Anderson and Kirstine Buchanan.
His family will receive friends at Roberts Funerals of Ocala West Chapel on April 27 at 10:30 AM. Followed by a celebration of life ceremony at 11 AM. Ken will be interred at Bay Pines National Cemetery, honoring his service with the United States Coast Guard at a later date.