Charles Jones

CHARLES EUGENE JONES, JR.
1948 - 2024
With heavy hearts, our beloved husband, father, grandpa, brother, uncle and friend returned peacefully to his Heavenly Father on October 5, 2024, in his Keizer, Oregon home with family at his side after battling recurrent cancer.
The eldest of 6 children, Charles was born March 21, 1948, in Altadena, CA to Charles and Louise Jones. The family later moved to Duarte, CA where Charles spent his childhood and teenage years. “Butch,” as he was known for many years, could be found playing baseball with the neighborhood boys and played on several Little League teams in the SoCal area. He was also involved in the 4-H club where he raised an award-winning steer at the county fair. Charles attended Duarte High School where he played varsity football and broke his arm so badly that he was never able to straighten his arm completely. As a result of this, he was not eligible to join the service which kept him from being sent to Vietnam.
Another passion of Charles’ during this time was his love of music. Memorable concerts he attended included The Doors, Cream, Blue Cheer, and other iconic bands. He would tell you, Pink Floyd’s The Wall, performed in LA, was his favorite. In addition to music and like a true Californian, Charles was also an avid surfer, traveling the coast down into Mexico in search of the best waves. Before his candy apple red 55’ Chevy came along, he would hitchhike to the beach with his board.
Charles met his devoted wife Kathy Bettridge during high school and started their family in 1968, beginning with the birth of their son Jonah. A second baby boy, Jaem, was welcomed two years later, and over the next few years, the family moved from the mountains of Sierra Madre where Charles developed a love and talent for gardening, to a farmhouse country life in Georgia raising animals and again, more gardening, eventually returning to California where their youngest son, Jacob, was born. After a period of separation, the couple reunited in Keizer, Oregon and devoted themselves to being disciples of Christ, faithfully living the Word of God.
Charles worked mainly as a carpenter, but in his mid-30s he decided to go back to school at Mt. Hood Community College to become a Respiratory Therapist. Although he worked in many hospitals, most of his time was spent at Salem Hospital. After 30 years working there, he retired in 2013.
A man of many skills, Charles was a fisherman, carpenter, plumber, auto repair man, lawn maintenance specialist, gardener, brief beekeeper, expert breakfast cook, joke teller, magician, dog’s best friend, ideal neighbor, and more. As a real foodie, he could always be counted on to suggest a nice restaurant with the biggest steak or best burger. He enjoyed his role of being a grandpa and made the effort to make lasting memories with his grandchildren. His true passion was following in the footsteps of Christ by being a friend to all, caring for his family, and helping the sick and poor. He always found opportunities to serve at home, church, and in the neighborhood. He loved talking to people, and the phrase on a baseball cap he wore sums it up perfectly: Drinks well with others.
Charles will be greatly missed, especially by his family. We know he has received his reward from a faithful Creator, whom he served, and is now part of the great cloud of witnesses in Heaven…when he’s not busy mowing the grass around the pearly gates.
Charles is survived by his wife Kathy; his sons: Jonah (Angie) of Mansfield, TX, Jaem of Keizer, OR, and Jacob (Jenny) of Lehi, UT; 21 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; sisters: Sharon, Carrie, Judy; and brother Bruce. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Diane, grandson Jeff, and family dogs Dip, Penny, Rex, and Bee.
Special thanks to the ED staff, Family Medicine staff, and his Oncology team at OHSU.
A viewing will be on Friday, October 18 from 4-8pm at the Keizer Funeral Chapel, 4365 River Road N, Keizer, OR. Funeral services will be held at noon Saturday, October 19 at Macleay Conference Center, 2887 74th Avenue SE, Bldg 3, Salem, OR. Following services, Charles will be laid to rest at Stipp Cemetery, 8125 Macleay Rd SE. Arrangements entrusted to Keizer Funeral Chapel.