" WHEN THE YOUNG BURY THE OLD, TIME HEALS THE PAIN AND SORROW. BUT WHEN THE PROCESS IS REVERSED THE SORROW REMAINS FOREVER". 

I LOVE AND MISS YOU EVERYDAY JOHN.....MY PRECIOUS SON..." Your Last Breath On Earth, was Your First Breath in Heaven."

John William Jones was born on March 5, 1970 and passed away on July 24, 2003. He will truly be missed and forever in our hearts.

JOHN'S EULOGY

WOW wouldn't John be suprised that all this is being done on his account!? You know he would not want a lot of hoopla. He would just want a really good party. Right?
I've actualy thought quite a bit the last few days about what he would want. One thing I know for certain is, he wouldn't want this to be a struggle for any of us, considering he was a boy who grew up learning how to overcome the struggles that began to plague him at a very early age. When he was young, he was so angry about his asthma, and being an asthmatic myself I remember countless discussions with him about why it had to be this way. He was desperate to make it stop. One of my favorite memories is when Maureen, John, Steven and I all piled in Steven's bronco over a Thanksgiving weekend to go to Mexico. We were both so sick of being on steriods and all the meds. Maureen had heard of a great doc down in Mexico who got people off steriods and practically asthma free. So...we go down there, at a considerable expense. We were so desperate to be delivered from that asthma, we were willing to take anything. Well, we both took what the doc gave us. I still remember that John was so disappointed when it didn't work, but he had quite a smirk on his round face when I started growing a beard. Turned out the charming doctor had put us on more steriods then either of us had ever been on!!! He was miserable, but he still thought my facial hair to be worth the trip.
I guess that's one of the things that stands out most to me. Through it all, and whatever was thrown at him, no matter how humongous, he kept that sense of humor. I think that John had actually captured something in life that the rest of us only talk about. He walked the walk, rather than talked the talk. He knew what he believed, and he made sure that he did whatever was put before him. I think he had a grasp of perseverance that the rest of us only dream our kids will have. He never quit! No matter whether he could breath, or had red lines running down his legs, he kept climbing those ladders. 
You know as John started growing up he and I had many words about his choices. When he got his first tattoo, I yelled and we all know how much good that did me. I believe he got a few more. When he just kept piercing and tattooing, in my snobby way, I kept saying "OH Maureen, oh John!" but from the very first time that little guy stood up against the wall staring at me when he was 10 years old, till the last time I saw him, there was always that look behind those eyes. Those eyes said it all. You got the impression that he knew something the rest of us didn't. Because it was John, I had to go out of my comfort zone. This boy was not really looking like what I had in mind for him. What was that all about anyway? Well once I got over the shock, I saw our boy become a man of honor. Those who know me know that I'm not ver trusting, but John had free run of my house for years and I knew I didn't have to worry.
John was very much aware that people were judging him and formualting what they thought of him by how he looked and by some of his choices, but the fascinating thing was he didn't judge them back or even get angry. It would upset his mom so much when she saw it happen, but he would just calmly say "It's ok mom. we're fine". 
I've always suspicioned that John had struggled so much in his life that he knew that petty things really weren't important enought to worry over. When you're toiling to get through every day, and for every breath things tend to get into perspective.
Even with as hard as he had it though, John always had time to help the many others that came across his path. There are many in his place who might have become bitter and cynical, but he didn't! You would think that he wouldn't have had the energy or desire to be so conerned with others, but he was. He always was there to help whoever needed it. As I have said before, he truly walked the walk. I think we all could take a page from his book.
I know all of us here will miss him, but there is no doubt in my mind that God knew that if John was ever going to get any rest, He was going to have to bring him on home. He knew John would not allow himself to lay down and even if he did, Maureen would keep picking him up and carrying him on her back. He knew neither one could ever quit, and so he said "come on home now my son". You embraced me when you were so very young and now it is my turn to embrace you. You've done what I wanted you to do and now is your time to be with me without any difficulties breathing or folks judging and you don't even have to wash any windows.


My good friend did John's eulogy. I knew she could capture how John lived his life.



JOHN, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE AT PEACE,
IT HELPS SO MUCH TO SET MY HEART AT EASE,
I LOVED YOU MORE THAN ANYONE COULD KNOW,
IT HURT ME SO BAD TO HAVE TO LET YOU GO,
BUT I KNOW GOD KNOW WHAT'S BEST,
THAT'S WHY HE PUT YOU TO REST.
I CRY AND THINK OF YOU EVERDAY,
IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM FAIR FOR GOD TO TAKE YOU AWAY.
I'M TRYING TO FIND COMFORT IN ALL MY GRIEF,
AND IT DOES HELP KNOWING YOU'VE FOUND GREAT RELIEF.
FOR NOW YOU ARE FREE FROM ALL SUFFERING AND PAIN,
SO MY GREAT LOSS, BECAME YOUR GAIN.
BUT I KNOW JOHN, YOU ARE SAFE IN GOD'S LAND ABOVE,
WHERE THERE IS NOTHING BUT PEACE AND LOVE.
I KNOW THAT SOME DAY I TO WILL DIE,
IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY, KNOWING YOU'LL BE WAITING FOR ME IN THE SKY.



A HEART OF GOLD STOPPED BEATING,
TWO SHINING EYES AT REST.
GOD BROKE MY HEART TO PROVE,
HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST.
GOD KNOWS YOU HAD TO LEAVE ME,
BUT YOU DID NOT GO ALONE-
FOR PART OF ME WENT WITH YOU,
THE DAY HE TOOK YOU HOME.
TO SOME YOU ARE FORGOTTEN,
TO OTHERS JUST PART OF THE PAST,
BUT TO THOSE OF US WHO LOVED AND LOST YOU-
THE MEMORY WILL ALWAYS LAST.
author unknown