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Matthew Jones Obituary
Matt was born in Pontiac, Michigan, on October 1, 1961, to his mother Margaret Porter and his father Donald Jones.
Matt enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1980 and served over 30 years of both active and reserve duty prior to retiring as Master Sergeant in 2014. During his time in the reserves and after military retirement, Matt worked in Manufacturing Operations Management.
Matt was a loving husband. He met his wife Janne while stationed in Oslo, Norway- they were married for over 30 years until her death in 2016. Together they had two daughters, Rachel and Miriam. Matt found love again and remarried to Jill in 2019 and they were together until her death in 2021.
Matt was a loving father and grandfather. He taught his family the importance of sticking together and supporting each other. He gave them a sense of adventure with his knack for turning simple trips into grand adventures, filled with constant laughter.
Matt had a passion for history and enjoyed collecting and selling unique relics, coins, and antiques. He loved reminiscing on his time growing up in Pontiac. He also had a passion for food and was a true "foodie" at heart.
Matt loved God and taught his family to rely on Him always, especially when faced with tragedies and hardships.
Matt is survived by many friends and family including his daughters Rachel Hubert and Miriam Jones, his son-in-law Josh Hubert, and his grandchildren Mileia Portee, BrookLynn Hubert, Elin Hubert, and Aksel Buxton.
A celebration of life will be held at 6pm on Friday, September 27, 2024, at Eastborough Church of the Nazarene- 4123 E Pikes Peak Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80909.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Shari Moore
October 21, 2024
A shared moment that I'll always remember was when Matthew was visiting one summer and I was sitting reclined on a couch eating from a bowl of popcorn. Matthew came running screaming through the house being chased by a bat. Of course, running and screaming were warranted!! I threw the bowl of popcorn up in the air and joined him. After we chased the bat out of the house, we laughed and laughed. Over the years, we still laughed as we remembered that.
Rachel H
October 3, 2024
My dad was a remarkable man. He was all about family. His phone and Facebook are filled with pictures of his family, showing just how proud he was of us. These pictures and screenshots really capture how much he cared and how important family was to him. His love for his kids and his grandkids-Mileia, BrookLynn, Elin, and Aksel-was endless. He often talked about them with such pride that you could see it light up his face. To him, they were more than just grand babies ; they were his biggest treasures. Every moment spent with them felt like an adventure, whether it was a spontaneous trip to explore new places or just hanging out at home. He had a way of making every experience and trip feel special.
His adventurous spirit was infectious. To him, life was meant to be explored, and he embraced it joyfully. Countless times, he would surprise us with a spontaneous road trip, saying, "Let´s see where the car takes us!" Those journeys, filled with laughter and joy, became the fabric of our family memories. He was also an amazing storyteller, always ready to share his childhood adventures and the fun times he had growing up. He had a way of bringing his stories to life, whether he was talking about the crazy things he did with his friends or the little lessons he learned along the way. They gave us a glimpse into the life he lived before us and reminded us of the adventurous spirit he carried throughout his life.
My dad was a huge foodie. He had a true passion for food that went beyond mere sustenance; it was a celebration of life and togetherness. Whether we were exploring new restaurants or cooking as a family, he always brought enthusiasm to every meal. He had a special ritual of opening a cookbook to a random recipe and, if it turned out to be a hit, he would star that page. Those cookbooks are now filled with his stars, each one representing a delicious meal and a cherished memory. For him, cooking wasn´t just about the food-it was also about the fellowship and togetherness that came with it. He loved gathering friends and family around the table, sharing stories and laughter. Those moments, filled with love and connection, are what we will hold onto forever.
My Dad was a real leader in his work life. He had an amazing work ethic, and he tackled every challenge with determination and integrity. He inspired those around him and taught us the value of hard work and dedication. He taught me how to lead with kindness and empathy.
Growing up, I witnessed my dad embody what true love looks like through his beautiful relationship with my mom. They had a deep respect and affection for each other that showed in everything they did, from the small acts of kindness to how they were there for each other during tough times. Their love was a constant in our home, filled with shared laughs and a real sense of partnership. Watching their interactions taught me the importance of compassion, communication, and commitment in a relationship. Their love not only made our family stronger but also inspired me to value and appreciate the love I have found in my own life.
After my mom passed, my dad met a wonderful woman named Jill, who brought new light into his life and ours. Their relationship and love grew stronger, and we grew to love her as part of our family. In this new chapter, my dad demonstrated once more the depth of his love and dedication, approaching this new life with a positive attitude. His connection with Jill reminded us that love can take on many forms and that it can bring joy even after a loss.
As we reflect on his life today, let us remember the love he shared, and the adventures he had. And of course, let´s not forget the laughter he brought into our lives-his sense of humor, especially his dad jokes, could light up any room and turn even the simplest moments into cherished memories. Together, these moments define his legacy and will continue to inspire us.
Miriam Jones
October 1, 2024
My dad came out to visit me in Indiana at the end of August 2024. My family moved out there earlier this year and we bought a 10 acre homestead. I was so excited for my dad to come visit so I could share it with him. I´m so glad he made it out there- I think God knew I needed that week with him before he was gone. He called me beforehand and warned me that he hadn´t been feeling good, was having trouble eating and keeping food down, but was hoping it would get better by the time he came. I could tell he wasn´t doing well the first day he arrived, he said he was hungry and so I made burgers and he took just 3 bites before feeling too sick to have any more. Somehow we still had a good time and did quite a bit while he was there. My favorite parts will always be him, Aksel, and I just walking around the paths on our property, and him and I sitting on the front porch just looking out and listening to the birds while drinking our morning coffee. Just a day after flying back home, he went to the emergency room with double vision and was told he had cancer throughout his body. And just 3 weeks after that, he took his last breath.
I am glad I was able to come down and be with him in his final few weeks. 3 weeks is not a long time to process everything that´s happening. He told me his mind was racing in his final days, he was thinking about what treatment options he had, trying to get affairs in order, and also thinking about heaven and all the people he would see up there- he mentioned my mom, Jill, Wayne Basinger, and Gene Sides to name a few- but he told me all that mattered was that he would see Jesus, with holes in his hands and arms open wide to greet him at heavens gate.
We went through a lot of emotions in those three weeks. First there was anger- there were a couple times he got very angry, and at one point he stopped and said to me- "I don´t want to be angry, I´m praying for God to bring my heart peace, because I don´t want people to remember me as being angry" -and after that his prayer must have been answered because I never saw him angry again. After that there was some sadness, a little bit of fear, lots of tears, and even some laughter. My dad was always good at making us laugh. I remember growing up the three of us- my dad, my sister and I- we would always be laughing, in the most inappropriate times, like at fancy restaurants or in waiting rooms at doctors offices. We would laugh so much we just couldn´t stop, and my mom would always be so embarrassed of us and that just made us laugh even more.
He could even make us laugh through the tough times. And boy my dad did go through a lot of tough times. He was never the same after losing my mom 8 years ago - it was a tough loss for all of us, but for him it was his whole world crashing down. I eventually convinced him to sign up for Christian mingles, and that´s how he met Jill, and with her I saw my dad´s joy come back- he loved her so much and they were so happy together, but less than 2 years after they got married, she passed away. And it was hard watching my dad´s world crash down again. I asked myself- why would God give him Jill just to take her away and put him through this pain again? But then it hit me- it wasn´t about my dad and his pain, instead it was about my dad and his LOVE: my dad had so much love to give- I saw it every day growing up with how much he loved my mom, and then seeing it again with how much he loved Jill. God just knew how much love my dad had to give, and I think that´s why he put my dad and Jill together, even though it was only a few years- so that he could share his love with Jill in her final years.
My dad showed his love every day in even the smallest ways with acts of kindness or sometimes even gifts. I remember one time he decided to plant an herb garden for my mom in our back yard, and he went all out- any fresh herb you can think of was planted back there, complete with stepping stones and garden decor and my mom loved it is so much- she would go out there to cut all types of herbs for her recipes, or just sit out there looking over her garden and drinking tea.
I was a lucky receiver of my dad´s love too- he loved me, my sister, and his grandchildren so much- and he showed that to the very end. After getting his cancer diagnosis, his worry was not for himself and what would happen to him- instead he said he was worried about putting his girls through another tragedy. That´s how much he loved us, his focus was just on how we would feel from this.
But unfortunately there´s no way around grieving from the tragedy of losing him, because grief is the price of love. You can´t have love without grief, and our family had SO much love, so there´s no surprise we´re grieving deeply; And I wouldn´t give that love up for anything. But every time we are filled with sadness and grief, I hope we can also remember the love our family shared, and then remember all the good times our family had, all the laughter we shared, the memories of the trips and adventures he took us on, and even the simple memories of sitting in the living room just enjoying each others´ company.
So thank you dad- I hope I can love as much as you did, and pass that love on to my family. We love you too, so much, and will miss you dearly.
Gary Maloy
September 24, 2024
Matt and I met in Oslo when he was stationed at the U. S. military support unit at Østerås and I was at the NATI HQ at Kolsås. We were fairly inseparable and I met (my) May-Lis and her best friend Janne and introduced Matt to Janne. A couple years later we stood as the other's best man when we married our Norwegian wives. Matt was a good man who will be missed by many, but he has prepared his daughters and their families for what may come.
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Helena Dunlap
September 21, 2024
We shared an office when he came in for his military weekends and when he was on orders. There were so many times that he had me cracking up, and I wish I could remember the specifics. We would laugh so hard that we were crying and couldn't look at each other without starting up again.
I am so grateful that he was there during some difficult times though too. He was my sounding board and often a voice of reason when I couldn't navigate to a solution. We swapped supervisory lines with each other twice. First, he was my supervisor and then I was his. It wasn't awkward because for us the relationship never changed.
It was just a movement on an organizational chart. I always had his back, and there was never a question that he had mine. I will miss him more than I can say.
Steve Young
September 21, 2024
The Buckley SFB military Retiree Activities Office (RAO) would like to offer our sincere condolences and our gratitude for MSgt Jones´ 30 years of service to our country in the Air Force. If you would like help with any matters related to casualty assistance, Defense Finance & Accounting Service, Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Veterans Affairs (VA), etc. you can contact our office on Buckley SFB at 720-847-6693 or [email protected]. The RAO is staffed by volunteers, all military retirees themselves, and our sole purpose is to provide assistance to any military retirees and surviving spouses/family members with anything related to their military service and/or benefits, in particular during difficult times such as this. We are deeply sorry for your loss.
Steve Young
Lt Col, USAF, Ret
Director, Buckley SFB RAO
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