Chester Wayne Jones

Chester Wayne Jones, age 77, died peacefully in his sleep at home on September 6, 2024. He was born on July 24, 1947, to Chester Floyd and Wanda Maxine Wilson Jones on Sheepskin Rd in Center Ridge, Arkansas. Most of his young life was spent in Indiana with his family. He was the oldest of 7 children. In 1962, his sophomore year in high school, his family moved back to Center Ridge, Arkansas where he attended and graduated from Nemo Vista School in 1965. He attended college at Arkansas State Teacher's College, ASTC (now University of Central Arkansas UCA) in Conway, AR. He then attended Petit Jean Vocational Technical School (now UACCM) in Morrilton taking land surveying classes. During that time, the Vietnam War was going on and Selective Service called him in. He chose to enlist for 3 years into the Army where he received training in land surveying. After Basic at Ft. Polk, LA, he took training at Ft. Belvoir, VA NCAR Washington D.C. Then he worked with the US Corps of Engineers in Georgia and Arizona. Just after high school, in 1965, and before he went to the army, he met his wife, Susan Lanni, and on Nov 4, 1967, they were married. In Jan 1968, the Army ordered him to move to Kitzengen, Germany, where his wife joined him in April 1968. In January, 1969, he was then ordered to Vietnam with only 11 months to go. With an early out to attend college, he returned to the states in August 1969. Finally, Wayne and Susan started their real married life. He started working for several engineering companies in Little Rock, eventually working for Garver & Garver Engineers over 10 years, where he was survey crew chief. After much studying on his own, he became a licensed state registered Land Surveyor. In 1983, they moved back to Center Ridge, and started his own survey company, with his wife working by his side. He joined the catholic church in 1999, where he was very active in the St. Joseph parish in Center Ridge, AR. He lectured at church approx. 20 years and helped in many other ways including years of working in the coke stand at the annual Catholic Point picnic. Wayne was preceded in death, by his parents and brother Travis Jones. Left to remember him is his wife of 56 years, his daughter Lori (Jason) Keathley of Fayetteville, AR, his daughter Amy (Wayne) Watkins of Conway, AR, and son Adam (Caitlyn) Jones of Fayetteville, AR. He also left 7 grandchildren, Lanni and Jack Keathley, Katherine and Brody Watkins, and Aiden, Cassidy, and Josey Jones. They will miss their Papa a lot. Also left to remember him are his sisters, Marilyn Jones, Brenda (Namon) Bizzell, Lita Jones, Rita Jones, and Jeris Ezell, his sister-in-laws Betty Diehl, Jackie (Donald) Lain, as well as many nephews, nieces, and cousins. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 11 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Jack Harris officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. Rosary will be 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 10 at the Harris Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., following the Rosary. Pallbearers will be Aiden Jones, Jack Keathley, Brody Watkins, David Jones, Larry Jones, Jeremy Kissire, Jeremy Mount, Mark Diehl and Philip Biggers.

Chester Wayne Jones

July 24, 1947 - September 6, 2024