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James Wesley Jones

May 11, 1969 - Feb. 5, 2019

James Wesley ‘Wes’ Jones was born in Ridgway, Pa., on May 11, 1969, and he passed away on Feb. 5, 2019.

Wes had many accomplishments in his life. After graduation from Johnsonburg High School, Wes enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He worked onboard an aircraft carrier, the USS Independence (CV-62) as damage control (DC-2), and he is a Veteran of Foreign War in Desert Shield.

Wes had a variety of successful career paths over the years. Upon fulfillment of his duties with the Navy, Wes studied to become a medical assistant and was employed with Kaiser in San Diego, Calif. He relocated to Las Vegas, Nev., where he studied to become a flight attendant for National Airlines. When the airline ceased operations, Wes enrolled in school to learn to drive a semi truck. His driving career took him through cities and towns nationwide. He discovered and later settled in the small town of Bayview, Idaho.

Wes worked as a ranch hand, delivered home oxygen to patients and drove a truck locally during his early years of living in Idaho. He later studied to get his license for real estate. Wes joined Keller Williams Realty of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and held his license there for eight years. While working in real estate, Wes also worked as a security guard at the Acoustic Research Development Center for the U.S. Navy, in Bayview, Idaho.

He became a contract carrier for the US Postal Service and acquired a mail route like no other. Wes delivered mail six days a week via boat on Lake Pend Oreille, in addition to maintaining the security position and handling real estate transactions. Once again, Wes returned to school to obtain his captain’s license in order to transport passengers on his boat. Eventually, he was able to leave his job as a security guard and start his own business, the Bayview Shuttle. This business was his own creation and he was more successful than he could have ever imagined. His business enabled him to regularly meet new people, and he enjoyed many wonderful experiences on the lake.

Wes was humble and kind, and he was a friend to everyone he met. He was well-known and loved by his community. He will be sadly and deeply missed by so many people.

Wes was preceded in death by his father, Jerome B. Jones; paternal grandparents, James W. Jones and Nellie B. Jones; and maternal grandparents, Joseph Magee and Nina Magee.

He is survived by his wife, Teresa McQuade; two beautiful daughters: Emilie (Jake) Wiemer and Amie Jones; his loving mother, Patricia A. Jones; an extraordinary sister, Tina (Mark) Ritter; two stepbrothers: Jerry (Sue) Jones and Bill (Candy) Jones; stepdaughter, Stacy (Jed) Thies and two step-grandchildren: Trevyn Thies and Evelyn DeFur.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Bayview Community Center, 20298 E. Perimeter Road, Bayview, ID 83803.