Loren Charles Jones was born Sept. 10, 1949, in Iowa City, Iowa, to Dorothea Cordelle and Otha Jones of Wellman. Early in his life his siblings gave him the nick name of “Shorty”. That name stuck with him throughout his lifetime. He passed away June 14, 2024, at his home in Marceline, Missouri. Burial will be at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, Jacksonville, Missouri.
After graduating from Mid-Prairie High School, he attended mechanical classes at Kirkwood Community College. Later he enlisted in the Army and was honorably discharged in November 1970.
He worked as a mechanic, over the road truck driver and most recently with the State Park Services in Missouri. Anything with speed and wheels interested Shorty: tractors, NASCAR races, late model cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and dirt bikes. Early on his joy was riding his BMW motorcycle throughout the country, attending cycle rallies and race events. He looked forward to each wildlife hunting season and preserved his catch. Always planted a vegetable garden and tended his flower beds until his health made it seem like a job. Winter months he enjoyed spending time building his model train set and model cars. Reading, photography and listening to good music were other passions of Shorty’s. Folks at the County Line Convenience, Marceline, will miss Shorty at morning coffee hour. Many in Marceline say Shorty enjoyed sitting on his front porch and would always give a friendly wave with a big smile. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.
He is survived by siblings: Fonda (Keith) Carris of Cedar Rapids, Lowell (Mary) Jones of Payson, Arizona, Myron (Regina) Jones of Kalona, and Darwin (Donna) Jones of Kalona; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents: Dorothea Cordelle and Otha Jones; and nephew: Larry Jones.
