Daniel Ray Jones passed away May 22, 2023. He was born in Pontiac, Michigan on March 10, 1951. Survived by his wife, Sandra Morgan Jones, his three children and spouses, Katherine Morgan Manion (Richard), Charles Paul Jones (Mary Winter), and Matthew Morgan Jones and two grandchildren, Charles Paul Jones Jr. and Harper Nadine Jones. Dan’s greatest joys in recent years were spending time with his family and friends, traveling, working in his garden and his never-ending home projects.
“Dan attended Donaldson Elementary School, Burt Elementary School, Isaac E. Crary Junior High School and graduated from Waterford Township High School in 1969. Some of his early employment was maintenance at Elizabeth Lake (EILIA), waiter at Machus Red Fox with many of his friends, and then at General Motors putting drive shafts on trucks. He served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1973, stationed in Korea. After release from military service, he lived briefly in California. He came to Louisiana working in the oil and gas industry at B.H.P. Specialists, Inc. doing bottom hole pressure testing. After marrying the love of his life, Sandra Morgan, he attended Delgado Community College. He received associate degrees in Plumbing and Water Purification & Wastewater Treatment. He went on to work at Ostarly Plumbing, Inc. After moving to Buffalo Valley, Tennessee he continued his education at Tennessee Tech University in Civil Engineering and worked at Smith Utility District. Upon returning to Louisiana he became a permanent resident of Donaldsonville, working for Peoples Water Service and was part of the inception of testing for the Mississippi River Water Quality Monitoring Project. He continued with gas chromatography at Gulf South Research Institute in New Orleans, ETC/Toxicon and Dynatech Environmental Labs in Baton Rouge. He became part owner in Benchmark Laboratories and was very proud of the environmental testing that was done in the Baton Rouge area. Training as a computer tech for Cooper Computer Services led to his final employment at the Baton Rouge Clinic in the I. T. department.
Upon retiring Dan temporarily relocated to his hometown of Waterford, Michigan where he was able to experience four seasons and renew his childhood habits of shoveling snow and enjoying the beauty of Michigan. In retirement, he served on the board of the Colonial Village Condominium Association. After three winters in Michigan, he returned to Louisiana to his permanent home in Donaldsonville.
He spent his final years working on house projects, growing a beautiful garden, and cooking food for everyone he knew. He loved music and poetry, and was a voracious reader. Dan never met a stranger and always had a joke or a story to share, along with a cookie or a piece of cake.
So sorry to see this sad news. Thinking of your.
Sandra, I am so sorry for your loss. Clearly, Dan was a fine person, and I know how you will miss him. Both Diane and I enjoyed getting to know you better at the Franklin reunion. Know that we are thinking of you during this difficult time of loss.
Sandra, my wife, Diane and I are so sorry to hear of your loss. Having just seen you at the reunion and sharing tales of the two of you at the Southern Yacht Club we got a chance to know him a little better. My condolences to you and your family.
Dan was a deeply caring person who had the gift of taking special interest in other people. He was intelligent and inquisitive and always had knowledge or experience he would share for those he encountered. He will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known him.
He will be missed but never forgotten. Love to all
Sandra,
I am so sorry for your loss. Prayers for you and your family.
Candy
Sandra, Rick and I send our sincere condolences. Our two years living in Louisiana will always be a fond memory for us. Dan ‘s love for his family, bed and breakfasts, cooking and gardening. Oh what fun and adventures the 4 of us had. The historical tours, bars, jazz bands, magazine street, Tabasco factory, I could go on and on. We are very sorry for your loss and will keep you in our prayers. Much love. Rick and Linda
So very sorry for your loss, Dan will be missed by so many. I will never forget his smile and his laugh. Much love to all of you.
So very sorry for your huge loss, Sandra & all Dan’s family & friends. Sandra, my door is open when you need company; I’m glad with became friends.
Love, Carol
You were a great friend, and you will be greatly missed!
I considered “Bro.” Dan like a cool second dad. I am so incredibly sorry for your loss and am completely heartbroken. Prayers and hugs !
We miss you, dad.