FRANCIS SEYMOUR JONES

JONES, FRANCIS SEYMOUR - age 91, passed away October 14, 2013. Dr. Jones was born June 1, 1922, in Madison, Wisconsin, the oldest son of Edith Seymour Jones and Fred Reuel Jones. He grew up in Madison, but attended Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, where he graduated in 1939 and then went to Boston University School of Medicine in Boston. He was inducted into the U.S. Army while in medical school, and on finishing an internship at the Massachusetts Memorial Hospitals, went on active duty until 1949 when he was discharged as captain. He completed his residency in pathology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and was appointed Director of Laboratories at the V.A. Hospital in Madison and was assistant professor of pathology at the U. W. Medical School. In 1953, he moved to Big Stone Gap, Virginia, where, under the auspices of the United Mine Workers Welfare and Retirement Fund, he established the Norton Community Laboratory which served medical facilities in Southeast Kentucky, Northeast Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia. In 1956, he became the first pathologist and Director of Clinical Laboratories of the newly opened UT Hospital in Knoxville. He served in this capacity for 42 years until his retirement. He was professor of pathology of the Graduate School of Medicine when it was formed in 1969. He was the author of a number of articles on pathology in medical journals. Dr. Jones was very active in blood banking both on the local and on the national scene. Other activities include photography and ham radio both of which activities were enhanced in his later years by computers. He was an aircraft pilot holding an instrument rating and commercial certificate. He created the Riverbend Publishing Company which published two books, one an autobiography of his mother-in-law, Katharine W. Farmer, the other a biography of his father written by his mother. He was active athletically, having been on the Bates College ski team and lettering in winter sports. After moving to the South, he became an avid tennis player. He was a member of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church of Knoxville and a former president of that church. Proceeded in death by his parents; and brother, Fred Jones. Survived by his wife, Elizabeth "Lib" Farmer Jones; son, Ted W. (Lou) Jones of Knoxville; daughter, Lucy (Todd) Mark of Frisco, Texas; step son, Clifford F. (Pam) Miller of Greeneville, Tennessee. Also survived by Phoebe (Franz) Samelson of Manhattan, Kansas; and sister-in-law, Be Jones of Elephant Butte, New Mexico. He had five grandchildren, Kevin (Michelle) Jones, Brian (Katie) Jones, Christian Miller, Katharine Mark, Joshua Mark, and one great grandchild, Elise Jones. A memorial service will be held Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church on Saturday, November 16, at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Francis S. Jones Gift Fund at UTMCK, 2121 Medical Center Way, Suite 110, Knoxville, TN 37920 www.utmedicalcenter.org/CLS.