Eugene Raymond "Gene" Jones, 86, died Dec. 15, 2009, at Hester Care Center, Wesley Towers, Hutchinson. He was born July 19, 1923, in Hutchinson, to Charles Raymond "Charley" and Frances Grace Emery Jones. He graduated from Hutchinson High School in 2001.

A resident of Hutchinson, he was a retired mechanic for the City of Hutchinson and worked for 27 years as a welder, mechanic and tube winder at Carey Salt Company.
He belonged to Berean Baptist Church, American Legion Lysle Rishel Post No. 68, V.F.W. Bob Campbell Post No. 1361, Loyal Order of the Moose No. 982, United Mine Workers District No. 50, and was a volunteer Reserve Sheriff Officer. He was a retired U.S. Navy SeaBee.

He had been married to Dorothy Louise Salmon. She died in July 1996. On March 23, 1973, he married Virginia Lee Reed in Hutchinson. She died Nov. 30, 2007. Survivors include: children, Brenda Link and husband Dean, Apache Junction, Ariz., Charles and wife Lisa, Phoenix, and Robert and wife Victoria, Hutchinson; stepchildren, Stephen Jefferson, Daniel Jefferson, Christy Hafenstine and Cindy Jefferson, all of Hutchinson; brothers, Donald, Olympia, Was., Vernon, Whittier, Calif., and Richard, Wichita; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Delores Simon and Marie Ann Dark.

Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Friday Dec. 18, 2009, in Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson, with Chaplain Art Maddock presiding. Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hospice Care of Kansas in care of the mortuary. Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave personal condolences for the family