James Carl (Jim) Jones

James Carl (Jim) Jones was met at heavens gates by his son, Chris; and parents, Ellis and Leta Edward, May 14th, much as he fought leaving all he so loved here: Dearest wife of 64 years and best friend since childhood, Eleanor; daughter, Michelle (Bill) Kendall; daughter-in-law, Shawn (Chris) Jones; sister, Betty Ann Griffin; grandchildren, Genevieve and Robert McDaniels, James (Jamie) Kendall; and of course brightest if smallest light of his life, great-granddaughter, Evelyn (Evie) McDaniels; along with innumerable cherished extended family members and friends – each of you were special in his life. Born in rural Kentucky March 21,1936, life’s journey led to countless paths to explore, whether by boat in the Great Lakes on one of the many Shell Chris’s or by motor home across the nation as far as Alaska, hunting by horseback in mountains out west for elk, fishing in Florida “for supper”, bowling with coworkers, skeet shooting or playing golf Cascade Hill Country Club, he was always on the move, at times flying small planes or in beloved “special cars” ending with a blazing yellow Corvette convertible to “get there” faster!  Much as he loved playtime, he loved his business, Rapid Die and Engineering, Inc and the tool and die industry even more. He was nationally known as leading the way with computer aided machining and design, serving as president of the American Mold Builders Association which he helped found in part to build benefit programs and start apprenticeship programs for mold makers, influencing college engineering degree development as well as doing all he could to support competitors, customers and vendors alike. He always referred to himself as “working with” the people he led as he so admired them, believing they were the successes – not himself or the machines and buildings of his company. His unshakable faith in Christ and God gave him the courage to face truly daunting events in life as an example to all that God never sends more than we can handle – he lived the life of a Shriner/Mason he joined decades ago. Family was at his core, they had to be included in everything – whether entertaining customers on boats and snowmobiling, working at “the shop” or participating in youth and men’s hockey in Grand Rapids, especially helping build GRAHA in its early days and supporting kids to play that otherwise would not have been able to, he had his wife and usually children with him. Other than the value of family he was raised with, only God could have seen the many interests he would explore in such a rich life with so many wonderful people to befriend, each of you so very special to him that at a later time, the family will hold a celebration of his life where all can share their memories. The family wants to thank Emmanuel Hospice for so kindly helping with his final days. A private family service is planned at St Matthews Lutheran Church with interment at Graceland Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers family requests donations be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children of Chicago, https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/shc/donate, or St Matthews Lutheran Church, 5125 Cascade Rd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546.