Joseph S. "Casey" Jones

Joseph Semion “Casey” Jones, age 65, died May 12, 2015, at McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey, Michigan. He was born September 13, 1949 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to Joseph Semion Jones II and Violet Kelly Jones. As an infant on Lime Island, Casey became very ill and his doctor recommended he be taken to live on the mainland so Marion and Doris Houston cared for him in Stalwart. He later attended school in Pickford, Raber, and Sault Ste. Marie. Casey joined the United States Army and proudly served his country in Vietnam. He was awarded numerous medals for his service, including the Bronze Star. Upon returning to Sault Ste. Marie, Casey tackled life head on, both in his work and having fun. He worked at Soo Building Supply, Three Mile Auto Salvage, and Hillock Farms. Casey loved operating heavy equipment and worked for various contractors including Les Cheneaux Contracting and Norris Contracting where he made many good friends. He also enjoyed working with his trucking friends, Artie Lavigne, Bill Dowd, Ron Stubelton, and Gene McKechnie. With the catastrophic storm Katrina, Casey formed his own business, Goetzville Auto, and headed to the Gulf to work disaster relief in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. He truly enjoyed the South. Casey was a hard worker and a good friend to all. His final conscious minutes were at the wheel of his Quad doing what he loved to do. Casey leaves behind his wife, Rose Anna (Weston) Jones, whom he married October 4, 2002; children, Robert (Brenda) McKerchie, Joseph S. (Tammy Renard) McKerchie, Amy (Richard) Drilling, and Jason (Amanda) Jones; adoptive son, Jonathon Kott; grandchildren, Mathew Smith, Andrew Smith, Krista McKerchie, Jocelyn (Cam) Hoy, Brandon (Emily Smith) McKerchie, Tia Drilling, Sequoya Drilling, Richie Drilling, Caden Jones, and Carlee Jo Jones; and great grandson, Holden Hoy. Also surviving are his step-children, Donald R. Crawford II, Jeremy (Jean) Crawford, Joseph E. Smith, Melissa M. Smith, and Rose J. Smith; and step-grandchildren, Donna Crawford Adams (fiancé Robert Stronge), Tessa Crawford, Samantha Crawford, Heidi Crawford, Christopher Crawford, Eathon Crawford, Ebey Crawford, Reid Crawford, Jerry Crawford, Madeline Crawford, Kota Kott, Cory Smith, Cheyene Schuetter, Charles Schuetter, and Michelle Smith. Casey’s will also be missed by his siblings, Roberta (Michael) Paquette, Mary Jones Douglas, David (Marion) Jones, Marie (Brian) McConkey, and Maureen (Doug) Egland. Casey was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Violet Jones and Marion and Doris Houston; brothers, Juan Paul “J.P.” Jones, Daniel Jones, and George “Skip” Hudson; and sister and brother-in-law, Joanne and James Parr. A gathering to honor Casey’s life will be held Wednesday, May 20, 2015 from 5:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. at the Niigaanagiizhik Ceremonial Building, 11 Ice Circle, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Brother John Hascall will conduct a service at about 5:30 P.M. and the rest of the evening will be spent sharing stories about Casey. If you like, write your story down and someone will read it to the people in attendance or just give it to the family to share privately. Inurnment will be in Fairview Cemetery in Pickford Township at a later date.

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Joseph S. "Casey" Jones

September 13, 1949 - May 12, 2015