SHERBURNE – Eugene T. Jones, 63, of Sherburne, long-time resident of the Smyrna/Sherburne area, passed away unexpectedly early Monday morning, July 23, 2007 at his home.
The son of Morris and Mildred (Wright) Jones, Gene was born in Norwich on April 5, 1944. He spent his early years in Guilford where he attended the local school and, moving to Smyrna at the age of 14, he finished his education in the Sherburne school system. Right out of high school, Gene took the job that would be his for the remainder of his life, working for the Blanchard Family on their farms in Smyrna. Gene was an extremely gifted woodworker who had made a lot of the furniture in his own home and also numerous pieces he had shared with family and friends. An avid NASCAR fan, he especially liked to watch Jimmy Johnson drive. But when it came to his own driving on the farm, his preference in tractors was the John Deere. Gene was a man who loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them, especially his children and his granddaughter. He and his wife, the former Beverly Smith of Sherburne, were married in Norwich on Oct. 6, 1972.
Gene is survived by his wife, Bev Jones of Sherburne; his children: Sandra Neuenschwander and husband Joshua of Hamilton and Michael Jones of Sherburne; his granddaughter, Emily Neuenschwander; and his sisters and brother: Brenda Jones of Smyrna, Lynda Conklin and husband Richard of New Berlin, Kathleen Franklin and companion Bill Meinhold of Norwich, and Donald Jones of Smyrna. Gene is also survived by nieces and nephews: Carl Franklin and his girlfriend Lisa Richardson of East Syracuse, Tim Franklin and fiancee Lynnette White of Norwich, Jamie Franklin and her boyfriend Jay Sincerbeau of Lyons, and Jeff Conklin and wife Amanda of Edmeston; great nieces Amber Franklin and Jessica Sincerbeau; and great nephew Izaiah Conklin; two sisters-in-law, Nancy Smith and family of Mass., and Linda and Rudy Rinas and family of Canandaigua, as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Funeral services for Gene will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home, with the Rev. David Mayo, pastor of the Cornerstone Baptist Church of Hamilton, officiating. Interment will follow in the Willcox Cemetery of Smyrna.
Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Smyrna Fire Dept. and Rescue Squad, Smyrna, NY, 13464.