Stuart Jones

Born April 10, 1948 in Indiana, PA to Loren and Jean Jones. He died suddenly on December 24, 2019 at Nolte State Park in Enumclaw, WA, walking in nature with his wife of 41 years, Kathleen Perkins-Jones.

Stu grew up in a Presbyterian family - his father a minister -

moving to Niagara Falls, NY, then spending his high school years in Lewistown, MT where he was ASB President at Fergus High School, a power forward on the basketball team and loved working on a cattle ranch. Encouraged to attend a religious college in Tarkio, MO, Stu quickly decided Saturday morning classes and mandatory bathroom cleanups weren't for him. He left school and soon chose to enlist in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War where he was a mechanic and decorated combat marine in helicopter units.

Upon returning, he graduated from Washington State University (which doomed him to be a lifelong, malcontent fan of Cougars football) and then earned a degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Washington. He worked as an athletic trainer and physical therapist at the Seattle Sports Medicine Clinic, eventually establishing his own practice in Enumclaw, WA that he ran for almost 20 years before retiring in 2009.

Stu deeply enjoyed nature and the stars. At different points in his life he was equally excited about mountaineering, trekking in nature, cycling, swimming, learning Spanish, growing plants, exploring new cooking techniques, reading eastern philosophy and attending games of his favorite team, the Seattle Mariners. Though a battle with a unique cancer, attributed to his service in Vietnam, affected him over the last decade of his life, his powerful, positive desire to live and grow allowed him to defy his prognosis, enjoying a happy and very active life until the end.

Stu was a likeable guy, an eternal optimist, enjoyed and respected by the people he came across in life. He was quick with a light-hearted joke, but he was also an intensely thoughtful, private person. He staunchly loved his family and unconditionally supported their dreams and well-being with compassion, dedication, hard work, interest and wisdom. He married his soulmate Kathy in 1978, and raised two children who were also his great friends: Kristopher of Seattle, WA and Rebecca of Del Mar, CA. He was really looking forward to seeing his daughter marry her fiance; Tom in May 2020. He is further survived by his beloved mother-in-law Patricia Perkins, Enumclaw, WA, and three brothers: Loren (LaRae), Juneau, AK; Mark (Karla), Bettendorf, IA; and Tim (Donna), Las Cruces, NM. He will be deeply missed every single day.

Please join us for a commemoration of his life from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday, January 25th, 2020 at the Enumclaw VFW Hall, located at 44426 244th Ave SE

Enumclaw, WA 98022.

In lieu of flowers, please consider

a donation to the Washington State Parks Foundation.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Seattle Times on Jan. 5, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Stuart Jones

Sponsored by The Family.

8 Entries

Lori Sabado

January 25, 2020

To the Jones Family,
I was saddened to hear the news of Stu's passing. I met Stu in PT school at UW. I remember him as a very chill person. I joined him in the back row of class. He was never overly anxious, always calming, and usually prepared. We played on an intramural basketball team, and he recruited me to be the coxswain for our intramural crew team. He was quite the athlete. After graduation, I would occasionally see him at continuing education courses.

My most striking memory of Stu was soon after we graduated from PT school. His son was a toddler, and we (a group of PTs) were meeting to improve our orthopedic skills. His son, had skipped a stage in motor development, and just started walking before he learned how to get up to standing. I remember watching Stu, carefully guide his son through the motor steps required to get up to standing. I observed caring, gentleness, and a love for movement wrapped up with his family. That is the image I will carry when I think of Stu.

My deepest condolences to all of you.

Judie Franz

January 19, 2020

I am very sorry to hear of Stu's passing. He was a special person for many people, and a great mentor to myself. His was not a wasted life - he has contributed much to many others. I wish I could find better words to leave here. He will be missed.

Dan Abenroth

January 9, 2020

Kathy, Kris, and Rebe:

I hope one day you'll read this. For years now, I've wanted to just stop by your house, knock on the door, and catch up on life. It's been so long. The last day I remember seeing Stu was high school graduation in 1999. It's been years since I've been in Enumclaw.
Among other things, I also wanted to sit down with Stu and literally tell him how he has impacted me (both growing up and now as a father).

I have incredibly fond memories of Stu. To my memory, my friendship with Kris goes back as far as any friend I can remember. My memories growing up with Kris are inextricably tied with Stu and your home. I still remember vividly that one year for Kris' birthday (probably 2nd grade), Stu took Kris, me, and another boy up to the mountains for snow tubing. I still remember the day clearly. What a fun dad.

As I continued to grow up, it meant countless more hours for me in your home (thanks for the food). Growing up, it became evident to me that Stu was the "coolest" dad in town. Marty, Mark, and I would talk about and agree on this, that Kris was gifted the coolest father a kid could want. Stu was fun, made you comfortable in his home, personable, and a joy to be around.

As a father myself now, I view Stu differently now than I did then. Kris remains among the most intelligent and gifted people I have met. It's clearer to me now how incredibly well Stu and you (Kathy) fostered Kris' talents and gifts. I've specifically tried to model some of my own parenting around what I recognize now as Stu's parenting techniques. 7 months ago I purchased 3 National Geographic subscriptions for my home (Nat Geo, Nat Geo Kids, and Nat Geo Little Kids). My reasoning at the time was that if Stu raised Kris on Nat Geo as leisure intellectual fodder, I would do the same for my kids. Now my 9, 7, and 4 year old children each have a Nat Geo subscription, with Stu Jones to thank as the inspiration.

I was crushed when I heard Stu had passed. I suppose the best way I can honor him is to continue fostering the innate gifts of my children in the same way I saw Stu and Kathy raise Kris and Rebe.

Thank you Stu for what your life gave to me, Enumclaw, our country decades ago in military service and again in recent years battling combat-related cancer, and most especially your family.

Terri Vogler

January 8, 2020

Kathy and family. I am so sorry to hear of Stu's passing. I was shocked when I heard the news. Stu was one of the nicest people I knew. He was also a great boss. Take care of yourself. Sending my condolences.

Shannon Schanz

January 7, 2020

So sorry for your loss... I'm just speechless

Stephanie Sackett-Converse

January 5, 2020

Kathy and family, Sending peace and comfort to you, and praying that your hearts find solace in the love and memories you have. I wish I had known Stuart personally, but Kathy, you have always spoken of him with deep love, affection, and respect. What a blessed man. God bless you.

SUSAN RICKER-ODEN

January 5, 2020

My deepest sympathy to Stu's family, wife, children and his brothers.
I lived across the street from him on 8th Avenue. during our high school years.My brother Mike and myself played basketball in our back yard during the summer. Winter was snowball fights.
He was a great friend and he will be truely missed.

Susan Ricker Oden

Vivian Andary

January 5, 2020

I extend my deepest condolences to all of you. I went to high school with Stuart. He was always kind to everyone, and our world has lost a bright light. Sincerely,
Vivian Morefield Andary

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