Leslie Hayes Jones

Leslie Hayes Jones (Les), 84, of Venice, FL, died peacefully on Thursday, August 15, 2024. Les is survived by his wife, Elaine, daughters Valerie Wright (Tony) of Okmulgee, OK, Teresa Durocher (John) of Marion, MA, 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Les was born in Denver, Colorado, April 17, 1940. He was schooled in Denver public schools through high school and had few outside activities that did not involve playing saxophone in marching, show, and dance bands, or participating in ROTC drill and rifle teams.

After graduation in 1957, he entered Colorado State University starting off to become an engineer; however, after two attempts at physics, graduated with a degree in Applied Chemistry and a gold bar of an Army 2nd Lieutenant on his shoulder.

Upon graduation from CSU, Les immediately entered the Army as a two-year obligated “volunteer” with every intention of returning to civilian life afterwards as a chemist for Dow, Inc. He retired from Service 24 years later having served as a specialist in chemical, biological and nuclear warfare, and as a R&D manager in chemical material development and aircraft and air defense weapons systems. Along the way, he acquired a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Arizona. His assignments included a tour with the 4th Infantry in Vietnam, instructor at the Infantry School, system manager for a gun low-altitude air defense Advanced Development program, instructor of Navy hull maintenance technicians and damage control officers in the intricacies of nuclear, biological and chemical defense afloat, and finally as the Pacific Command Chemical Officer.

Upon retirement from Service in 1985, Les worked for a Government contractor as a test-support mission planner, developing instrumentation and logistical support plans for ballistic missile tests taking place at Kwajalein Missile Range, now U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll. In 1989, he returned to Government service as a Supervisory General Engineer. Thus began a 26-year career of support to Space and Missile Defense Command and its predecessors, service which included re-establishment of a range user interface group for the coordination of missile tests and space operations activities at the Range, and subsequently, the re-establishment of the Kwajalein Support Directorate in Huntsville, AL.

During these service periods, Les resided a total of 9 years on Kwajalein, Republic of the Marshall Islands, two while in uniform—performing radar test-support planning, mission/cost/schedule/performance, range control and mission scheduling, and 4 years as Deputy to the Commander. The remainder of the years until retirement from Civil Service (2015) were spent as the leader of a team of program planning engineers, security, and acquisition subject matter experts in the performance of the myriad functions that accrue to a Government Operations Division.

In retirement, Les enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, traveling, playing bridge, reading, and doing daily crossword puzzles.

Arrangements are being handled by Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Venice, FL and Olinger Mount Lindo Cemetery, Morrison, CO. There will be a ceremony to scatter Les’ ashes at Mount Lindo at a later date.