Theodore Ernest Jones

Ernie passed away peacefully at the Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary on the morning of 20 November at the age of 86 years. A beloved husband and father, Ernie is survived by his wife Sue and his five children Tess (Ray), Martin (Kelly), Gina (Andy), Paul (Tanya) and Ted (Shae). Ernie was also a kind and loving grandfather to Matthew (Ellyse), Sam, Ben, James (Sam), Chelsea, Eric, Quinn, Kaemon and Layla – as well as a great grandfather to Silas and Oliver. Ernie was predeceased by his dear sister Muriel Byers, also of Calgary.

Ernie was born to Theodore and Elsie Jones in Bellevue, Alberta and raised in nearby Cowley, Alberta before moving to Calgary with his family as a teenager. After graduating from Western Canada High School, he completed his Engineering Technology diploma at SAIT and enjoyed a long and successful career with H.W. Klassen and Associates, Steisslinger Construction and Fluor Daniel. His work ethic and attention to detail were extraordinary and he was a gifted and highly respected manager of people throughout his career.

Outside of his professional life, Ernie was a Level 4 CSIA ski instructor who made deep powder skiing look remarkably effortless. It was poetry to watch. In his quiet hours, he would smoke his pipe and listen to AM radio while meticulously creating a model railroad that was inspired by his rural childhood in the beautiful foothills of Southern Alberta.

After retiring in the early 1990’s, Ernie enjoyed his time with Sue and their many friends playing golf at Priddis Greens and Highwood country clubs and during many nights of bridge through the winter months. They also logged thousands of miles with terribly spoiled dogs in their motor home, travelling all over North America with favorite destinations being Vancouver Island, the Oregon Coast and Southern California.

Ernie was a kind soul and an exceptional man to all who knew him, with a calm and generous disposition. He always put others before himself and was the first to offer his chair to someone else in a crowded room. Ernie’s quiet but strong example to all his children will be missed, but his invaluable guidance will be with us always.

The family would like to extend sincere thanks to the staff at Southwood Care Centre as well as the doctors and nurses at Rockyview General Hospital for their compassionate and professional care over the last several months. In lieu of flowers, any donations can kindly be made to The Calgary Humane Society (https://www.calgaryhumane.ca/) or the Parkinson Association of Alberta. (https://parkinsonassociation.ca/)

A memorial service will be held on 4 December 2022 at 1pm at The South Calgary Funeral Home, 12700 Macleod Trail South, Calgary, Alberta.