Steve Jones

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

On September 15, 2023, Stephen Loyd Jones, 64, finished his race, entering into the presence of the Lord after a six-month battle with cancer. Steve passed peacefully, surrounded by his family in the house he built that has been called home by his eight children for the past 28 years.

Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Loyd Jones and Donna Webster.

He is survived by his wife, Laura; their children, Connor Jones and wife Jessie, Landon Jones, Hannah Sell and husband Bob, Meleah Myers and husband Lucian, Andrah Myers and husband Boone, Lydiah Sampsel and husband Noah, Christah Jones, and Charis Jones. His grandchildren include Nigel, Gordon, Miles, Leland, and Zoey Jones,Ellen Myers, and Reagan Sell. He is also survived by his sister, Melody Irle, and husband Jeff.

Steve was born on December 18, 1958, in Topeka, Kansas. He attended Olathe High School, graduating
in 1978, where he enjoyed participating in sports including football and track. Of his athletic interests,
track in particular became a focus. Because of his dedication, he was able to go on to win a state
championship in pole vaulting. 

It was during his high school years, that he was introduced to the Word of God. Steve’s grandmother was the one who supported the development of his faith by encouraging him to attend Bible camp and taking him to church regularly. His faith and interest in track were both important aspects of Steve’s life that carried into his time at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas where he studied electrical engineering. 

Being a part of the Pitt State Track team and continuing to be a strong follower of Jesus caused Steve to regularly attend the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter on campus. It was at one of these gatherings that Steve met Laura McDonald, a nursing student. Though not an athlete as Steve was, Laura did, however, share his faith. 

As it happened, Steve and Laura had actually gone to the same high school together, though they never knew it. After this meeting, a relationship began to develop, and after dating for 3 years and both finishing their degrees, Steve and Laura were married on August 6th, 1983.

Out of college, Steve started his lifelong career working at GE Medical Systems as a Field Service Engineer which helped support his and Laura’s wonderful family. They were dedicated to raising a Godly family and faithfully nurtured their eight children together.

One of the ways that he enjoyed investing in his children’s lives was to encourage and provide
opportunities for them in music. You might say he lived out his love for music through them, to which
each of his children would testify. He allowed each of them to have music lessons in multiple instruments and gave them plenty of opportunities to share their music with others.

Following a private family Following a private family burial, a memorial service will be held at Fairview Christian Church, 2320 Grand Avenue, Carthage, MO, 64836, on September 18th at 4:00 pm.