Daniel Amasa Jones

1924 - 2011

Daniel Amasa Jones, a recent transplant to Austin, Texas, departed this life April 4, 2011, with his family at his bedside.
He was born July 16, 1924 to Charles D. Jones and Loretta Sands Jones in Nome. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years, Elda Doroh Jones, on Feb. 11, 2009.
Dan was born and raised in the frontier town of Nome, to a pioneer of the gold rush of 1900. He developed a love of the wild Alaska land and learned the subtleties of gold mining on the remote claims of the Seward Peninsula.
Dan met his life partner Elda while attending Northwestern University. He was called to duty and served his country as an engineer during World War II. Dan and Elda were married in 1945 while he was stationed in Washington, D.C. After his discharge, he began a lifelong adventure with his new wife, moving the young Detroit city girl to his hometown. He moved to Fairbanks in 1947, where his first son, Daniel Jr., was born. He was a proud graduate, in mining engineering, of the University of Alaska in 1949. Dan returned to Nome, where his daughter Cynthia was born.
Looking for a more varied mining experience, he moved to Bishop, Calif., and then on to Reno, Nev., where he began a 30-year career with the Bureau of Land Management. While in Reno, Nathan, "Mom's Little Jackpot," was born. In an effort to advance his career, Dan relocated the family to Washington, D.C., where his expertise on Alaska issues was recognized and he was transferred to Fairbanks for the arrival of statehood. It was there the baby of the family, Amy, was born.
After serving as the land office manager for four years, Dan moved the family to Anchorage. He helped auction the valuable oil leases on the North Slope and took a new assignment in Salt Lake City. Dan became an expert in abandoned mined lands reclamation and further transfers followed. They moved back to Washington, D.C., Kansas City, Mo. and Springfield, Ill., where while working under the Reagan administration, he decided retirement would be a viable option to the new regressive environmental policies.
Dan and Elda continued their adventures in life with a short stint in Anchorage and Edmonds, Wash. They finally settled into the longest stay of their marriage, 10 years, when they took up residence in Vancouver, Wash. The final leg of his life adventure was to Austin, Texas, in order to be closer to family after the love of his life, Elda, passed away in 2009.
Dan was extremely social and enjoyed talking about his children, grandchildren, Alaska, geology, history, politics and the makings of his favorite libation. He was a member of the Alaska Pioneers Igloo 4; the Alaska Yukon Pioneers; American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers; and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.
Dan is survived by his four children and their spouses: Daniel Jr. and Allison Grader of Reston, Va., Cynthia and Michael Solich of Denver, Nathan of Fairbanks and Amy and Scott Jeffress of Spicewood, Texas; his grandchildren, Madeline Grader-Jones, Nikolos Solich, Danielle Solich, Schuyler Jeffress and Jude Jeffress; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their children.
It is conceivable Dan could have chosen an easier, more secure path in life, but that was not his way. For those of us who shared in his journey we will be ever thankful for the vistas and experiences he provided.
Memorial donations to celebrate his life may be made in his name to the Pioneers of Alaska Igloo 4, P.O. Box 70050, Fairbanks, AK 99707.