Merrell Dewayne Jones
1941 - 2024
Merrell Dewayne Jones, age 82, of Hot Springs, Ark., passed away January 11, 2024, at CHI St. Vincent Hospital following complications from a severe stroke.
He was born August 9, 1941, in Dunklin County, Mo. (Allen's Island). He was the only child of Roy and Effie Minor Jones; he grew up on his father's cotton farm in the bootheel of Missouri.
Merrell graduated from Holcomb High School in May 1959. After an early life-long fascination with airplanes and helicopters, he joined the United States Air Force on September 8, 1959.
On August 11, 1963, he married Carroll Johnston, to whom he was married for 60 years. The Jones' have two daughters and three grandsons. He graduated from Arizona State University in May 1969 with a double major in history and sociology. He completed a Masters degree at Washburn University, Topeka, in 1981. He also completed Rescue Emergency Medical Technician licensure (Kansas Medical Center) in 1983.
Merrell viewed his life and 36-year career in the military (Air Force) and military-related jobs (Air Guard, Army Guard, Department of the Army Civilian Advisor) as exciting adventures. Immediately after high school, he joined the Air Force, completing two tours (eight years), including duty in Michigan, Kansas, Montana, Arizona, and Vietnam in a variety of roles, including helicopter mechanic, crew chief, and test flight engineer, and/pr pilot for the Arizona National Guard; Intermountain Aviation Inc. with the U.S. Forest Service Fire Patrol; Kansas Army National Guard's 920 Medivac Detachment, Forbes Field, Topeka; and Helicopter Maintenance Instructor on UH1 5038 USAR School, St. Louis, Mo.
His favorite helicopters were the Huey and the Apache. He spent 20 years as a Federal Civil Service Technician. June 1985, he retired from the U.S. Army. For 16 years, he worked for the U.S. Army Troop Command Department of the Army as a civilian advisor on helicopters, including a tour in Germany to supervise shrinkwrapping helicopters for shipping home and a tour in Southeast Asia, Desert Storm. He was promoted to GS-12 with the military rank of Lt. Col. Over the years, he was awarded many medals; the last was the Civilian Service Medal on June 2, 1992. A Proud American Patriot!
Merrell Jones and his wife retired in Hot Springs, Ark. He will be buried in the AR State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, Ark. Services will be held in the spring.
Merrell Jones was the son-in-law of the late Willis and Wilma Johnston of Stockton.
