Earl Jones

Earl Harold Jones was born in Woodenville, Washington on October 22, 1919. He was married to Mary Caroline Hunich in Grand Coulee, Washington in 1939. Their first son, Terry, was born there in 1940. Their second son, Robin, was born in 1953 in Seattle, Washington. Earl was trained at the Bremerton naval shipping yards to be involved in ship building like his father, Iver. He was drafted into the Navy, however, in 1943 and was stationed on ships in the Pacific Ocean during WWII. When he returned from duty in the Navy he began a career of entrepreneurship. Between 1945 and 1955 he ran restaurants, a cigar stand, a drafting office and drove a milk truck. He founded Preferred General Insurance Agency in Anchorage, Alaska in 1955. His first wife died in 1975. Earl married Nona Bhagatram on May 23, 1973. He was an avid bridge player, golfer and reader of western novels. He loved fishing and traveled throughout Alaska fishing the rivers. He also spent many years fishing and setting crab pots in Peterson Bay where he built and spent time in his cabin. Earl was well-traveled - having been to China, Australia and New Zealand as well as throughout Europe. He maintained homes over the years in Hawaii, Alaska and Arizona. His friends and business partners will remember him as a man of his word who appreciated honesty and integrity above all. In business he could be very demanding but always strived for fairness. He many times said "a deal is only good if it benefits both parties equally". As Earl's good friend and brother-in-law said "Earl was generous almost to a fault. Always willing to help out family and friends." He worked hard his whole life to make sure he had a legacy to leave his family. Earl died of cancer on November 26th while visiting his winter home in Mesa, Arizona. He is survived by his two sons Terry and Robin; and nine grandchildren Jason, Caleb, Nicole, Amy, Josh, Jeremy, Aaron, Melissa and Morgan.