JONES, Norman

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, Arizona Published Tuesday, September 15, 2009 Norman Jones, age 80, with his wife by his side went peacefully to be with our Lord on Sept. 10, 2009, after a long four-month battle with colon cancer. Norman was born in Taylorville, Ill., on Dec 31, 1928 to Willard & Blanche Jones. Both parents preceded him in death. Norman and his wife Patricia were married on Sept. 24, 1955. He was a machine operator, and she worked as an accounts payable clerk. After his retirement they moved from La Mirada, Calif., where they had lived for 30 years and raised their three children, and grew to love the slow life of Lake Havasu City. Norman's greatest passion after family and friends were his love for cars. At age 16 he bought his first car, a 1937 Chevy and over the years bought 67 cars, 23 of them were brand new. People joked with him that he was car poor. He also was a NASCAR fan and never gave up on Jeff Gordon. His other interests were fishing, shooting, dice and going gambling, when his wife begged enough. His survivors are his wife Patricia of 54 years; daughter, Cheryl Kosek (Mark), of Anaheim Hills, Calif.; sons, Rod, of Murrieta, Calif., Phillip (Kim), of Las Vegas, Nev.; his three children from his first marriage are Steve (Wendy), of Escondido, Calif., daughter, Terri (Alex), of Maui, Hawaii, Greg (Janet) of Haliimaile, Hawaii; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and a special brother-in-law, Mo Churchman who moved to Lake Havasu City four years ago and was like the brother he never had since he was an only child. Mo was by his side and mine for the last four months endlessly. I want to also say a special thank you to all the staff at New Hope Hospice who made his last days so much more comfortable than he would have been without them. An extra thanks to Keri, who was his nurse, and Sarah, Lisa and Carman. There will be a memorial service at a later date. Donations may be made to New Hope Hospice, 500 N. Lake Havasu Ave., Suite 106, Lake Havasu City, AZ, 86403. Condolences and thoughts can be made to his family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. Arrangements for cremation are being handled by Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home. There will be a memorial service at a later date.