Frankie Lee Jones

Frankie Lee Jones, age 71, passed away quietly in his sleep at his home located in East Wenatchee, WA on August 2, 2016. Frankie was born June 19, 1945 in Mobile, AL to Frank Lester Jones and Jewell Melinda Morrell. The family relocated to Harpersville, AL and then later to Milton, FL where Frankie attended high school. Upon turning 18, Frankie chose to voluntarily enlist in the United States Army and fought as a combat soldier in the Vietnam War. He also proudly served in the honor guard and was honorably discharged in 1966, where upon he followed his family who had moved to Cashmere WA during his service. He quickly found work at a local saw mill, until being hired at ALCOA Wenatchee Works, and it was during this time that he met his future wife Norma Thompson. They traveled cross country by vehicle to marry in Columbiana, AL on June 18, 1968. Following their nuptials, they continued to reside in Cashmere, WA until relocating to Burien, WA in 1969, where Frankie worked as a line packer at Bar-S Meats. It was here that they welcomed their only child, Brandi Brett (Jones) in February of 1971. It was only a short time later in the summer of 1973, with an adventurous heart, that Frankie decided to follow two of his siblings and move his young family (along with the family dog "Girl") in a 1969 Charger, across the unpaved and sometimes treacherous Alcan Hwy to Fairbanks, AK. This was a journey that he often spoke fondly of with a smile and a chuckle. He followed his spirit to work outdoors in untamed country and gained employment on the Trans Alaska Pipeline system in Prudhoe Bay, where he became a foreman for the labor union. He fell in love with the landscape and tundra and made it a hobby to take as many photos as he could of the local wildlife. The Jones family resided in Fairbanks, AK until 1980, in which year they relocated to East Wenatchee, where Frankie then continued his love of working outdoors and traveling as a laborer and concrete finisher, of which it could be said he was an artist, until an injury resulted in his early retirement in 2000. After that time, he filled his days with whatever his heart desired. He was always known to have a stockpile of treats and drinks for the neighborhood kids, who stopped by often to partake in his generosity. He even bought a bicycle for a young man he noticed working hard pulling a wagon to deliver The Wenatchee World, and commented that it would make his employment a little quicker and more enjoyable. He always appreciated a job well done and the results of that relished. He volunteered through the Veterans Administration as an advisor on a couple of Habitat for Humanity projects for which he thoroughly took pleasure in. Frankie had a loving giving soul that will be sorely missed by all those who knew him and those who were lucky enough to share a good laugh with him. He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Jones; his younger brother, Jackie Jones; and his beloved dog "Sarge". He is survived by his mother, Jewell Bartosh; step-father, James Bartosh; sisters, Patricia Miller and Nancy Long; sister-in-law, Dianna Jones; and youngest brother, Johnny Jones. Extended survivors include his nieces, Monica Greedy, Dana VanDam, Julianna Hatch; and nephews, Jake and Tyson Jones; including six great-nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his daughter, Brandi Brett; and his two beautiful grandchildren, Siri Jewellann Brett and Dagan Lee Brett. Visitation of Frankie will be held from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Wednesday, August 10, 2016, at the Telford's Chapel in East Wenatchee, with a Celebration of Life at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, August 11, 2016. A reception will follow at Bob's Burgers And Brew. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee, WA.

Frankie Lee Jones

June 19, 1945 - August 2, 2016