Frank John (Johnny) Jones, Jr. was born April 8, 1926, to Frank J. and Rachel Carlson Jones, on their farm 5 miles north of Tarkio, Missouri. He went to school in Tarkio. His family was among the earliest members of the Tarkio United Methodist Church.

In 1942, during his senior year of Tarkio High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served in the Pacific Theater as part of the Naval Air Corps division aboard the USS Detroit. He earned the Victory Medal, the American Area Campaign Medal and the Asian Pacific Area Campaign Medal (2 stars). He was honorably discharged in 1945.

John came home to Tarkio to farm with his family as the fourth generation on the farm. He met Emma Elizabeth Stewart while they were both working on their pilots licenses. They married on October 20, 1946 at the Tarkio Methodist Church. John and Elizabeth had three girls, Patricia Elizabeth, Marcia Elaine and Beverly Kay.

He was an active member of his community, participating as a Boy Scout Leader and a 4-H leader, on the University of Missouri Extension Council, Atchison County Extension Council, Tarkio R1 School Board and Farm Bureau. John was a 60 year member of the Masonic Lodge, a 50 year 32nd Degree Scottish Rite and a 50 year member of Moila Shrine and the Order of Eastern Star. He was a Worshipful Master in the Masonic Lodge and a Worthy Patron in Eastern Star.

John was a 60 year member of the American Legion, Allen-Schiffern Post #199. He was Chairman of the Board of Colfax Farm Mutual Insurance. As a trustee of the C. Raymond Carpenter Trust, he was instrumental in improving and expanding healthcare services in Atchison County. He served on the Community Hospital Association Board of Directors for two terms.

Ever a forward thinking farmer, he participated in the Bi Agri Missouri Program by growing commercial broccoli as an alternative crop (1987). He was on the University of Missouri Advisory Council for the School of Agriculture (1967). In 2004, his then 135 year old farm received its designation as a Century Farm.

During his life John achieved many awards, among them the Outstanding Achievement Award by the Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City, Missouri and University Missouri and Balanced Farming Contest (1955), and the State Achievement Award by the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, Missouri and the University of Missouri Farm Management Program (1976).

John and his family loved to travel and their trips took them all over the United States and the world. After their People to People Tour of China, they hosted a visit at their home and on the farm from the Minister of Agriculture from the Republic of Red China and her entourage.

John is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, his three children: Patricia E. Stevens and her husband, Joel Bartlett Stevens, III, of Portland, Oregon; Marcia E. Lane and her husband, Alonzo Everett Lane, III, of Kansas City, Missouri; Beverly K. Jones of Tarkio, Missouri; and three grandsons: Christopher N. Caprio of Missoula, Montana; Alonzo Everett Lane, IV of New York, New York; John Stewart Lane of Kansas City, Missouri.

John is preceded in death by his sister, Rachel Lucile Jones and an infant son, John Douglas Jones.

Funeral Services were held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday November 12, 2006 at the United Methodist Church, Tarkio, Missouri, with burial at Center Grove Cemetery, Westboro, Missouri. Memorials may be directed to the Community Hospital, Fairfax, Missouri.