Ira Jones
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Ira Jones
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‘Forever Our Ira …’
ARLEE - It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our loved one, Ira Jones, 78, of Arlee. He died at his home on April 11, 2025. Ira was born in St. Ignatius, on his mother’s birthday, Dec. 8, 1946, to John and Amelia Tellier Jones. He was the ninth of 11 children. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Alice Luoma Jones, and children and partners, Jana North (Ted), Brad Jones, Becca DuMontier (Tim), Paula Ryan (Francis), and a bonus son, Brady Harwood (Marc Hussy); all of his 15 beloved grandchildren and five great-grandchildren (taking special pride in being their “Papa Ira”); siblings, Marie Ashley, Pauline Nicholson, Lubert Jones and Vicki Belgard; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ira was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Alfred Jones, Ken Jones, Adeline Upton, Earl (Dennis) Jones, Leo Jones and Dalon Jones.
Ira spent his childhood and school years at St. Ignatius where he met his wife during their junior year at Mission High School, both graduating in 1965. Thus, began an interesting and varied life and career. He was a member of the Army National Guard from 1966 to 1972. Like many in the area, he began his work life at Dupuis Lumber Co. in Polson, moving on to work for the BIA Irrigation Project. From 1974 to 1997 he had a career with the U.S. Forest Service starting in the warehouse. He was promoted to the smokejumper base facility manager, and then to the regional office as the tribal government specialist for the regional forester. This position provided much interesting travel and interaction with the Indian tribes. During this time, he established the ITYP program for Indian youth. Many today remember attending this camp in the Jocko.
He retired from the Forest Service in 1997, took a weekend off, then began his career with the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho to develop and implement a treaty territory watershed management program. The program under Ira’s tenure began with a budget of $50,000 and ended after 17 years with an estimated budget of $10,000,000 and 60 or more employees. Ira was proud to be a member of the Nez Perce Tribe and appreciated the opportunity to serve his Tribe. As we all know, Ira was a great delegator and brought that skill to the Tribe. He recognized young talent and supported their career development through training programs, ongoing encouragement, and financial assistance for higher education.
He retired from the Nez Perce Tribe in 2014. The culmination of his successes in his careers are represented in his receipt of the following awards:
- Rise to the Future Award (Chief’s Award) for “Collaborative Aquatic Resource Stewardship” – Clearwater National Forest Watershed Restoration Program and Nez Perce Tribal Fisheries/Watershed Program. This award was from the start-up of the watershed program in 1999.
- US Forest Service Regional Foresters Award – Outstanding performance in watershed restoration on the Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forest
- 2013 Rise to the Future (Chiefs Award) winner of the “Tribal Accomplishment” category is the Nez Perce Tribe’s Department of Fisheries Resource Management. They are recognized for their commitment to aquatic habitat restoration and their outstanding partnership with the Nez Perce-Clearwater, Payette and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests in Regions 1, 4 and 6.
Ira loved the outdoors, especially hiking, mountain fishing in the Jocko, salmon fishing in Idaho, and hunting elk, bison, and the occasional moose. Stories abound about all his recreational adventures. His sense of humor, often subtle and deadpan in delivery, was so enjoyed and a quality he passed on to his children, creating so many fun times and memories. He was extremely proud of his Idaho record elk that he harvested on his birthday in 2000. It received a Boone & Crockett Score of 400-⅞ in the non-typical category. This prize was mounted and graced the great room where he could admire it. His kids often joke that he and Mom’s retirement house was built around this elk mount. He spent his remaining years continuing to enjoy and develop the landscape of his beautiful property.
In Ira-style, we’re joking and laughing through the tears. We will miss how he was a hunt’n and fish’n mentor and buddy to his family. He was a great teacher in many things; especially in life, including how to be a caring father, and, most of all, how to just be a decent person. Dad, we will hear your voice in the wind, see you in the soaring eagle, catch your laugh in the babbling stream, feel your strength while standing on the top of the mountain, see your grace and agility in the bounding elk and your love in the warm morning sun. We can never repay you for all you’ve given us. We can only hope to walk in your footsteps and measure up, even a little, to your example. We love you.
Peace to you, Bear, on this next leg of your journey.
