Curtis Ray Jones

Curtis Ray Jones was born on April 1, 1946, to Clyde F. Jones and I. Lucille Lawrence Jones of Milford.

He spent his school years first at Cornell and then at Greenville-Rossie, graduating in 1964. Following that, he spent six months training in the National Guard, and served three years while attending Iowa State University. He studied dairy science and agronomy and graduated in 1969.

He married his high school sweetheart Mary Ellen Maurer in September 1968. One of Curt’s favorite jokes was to say they were married for 114 years (57 for him and 57 for her).

After their ISU graduations they moved back to Sioux Rapids where Curt farmed corn and soybeans and raised cattle and pigs. At the end of his workday he enjoyed peanuts and a Coke at the Rossie Store.

When he was 41, he took up golf, and generously granted himself time off for men’s nights at Sioux Rapids and Spencer ever afterward. He enjoyed traveling and golfing in places like Grand Cayman, Hawaii, Australia, St. Andrews in Scotland, and Pebble Beach in California.

In 2007, Curt was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. That made farming more difficult as time went on, but he was proud that his son William continued his farming operation.

On Aug. 26, 2024, Curt was presented with the Iowa Corn Walter Goeppinger Lifetime Achievement Award to honor his service to those in the corn industry, particularly for his efforts to fund research that would benefit farmers. He volunteered and led in many local and farming organizations throughout his career, including the Farmer’s Home Administration Board, Northwest Iowa Experimental Farm, Clay County Grower’s Association, Herdland Township Fire Board, the Sioux Rapids-Rembrandt school board. He lectored for many years at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Sioux Rapids.

Curt loved to watch sports, play cards, and tell stories. He never met a cookie he didn’t like. He won a prize for largest collection at the Clay County Fair for his Coke memorabilia in 2023. During his retirement he wrote a memoir, I’m Just a Country Boy. He was a great friend and neighbor and loved to socialize.

Curt passed away on Saturday, June 21.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen (Maurer); his daughter, Allie Jones McCann, her husband, Dave, and their children, Michael, Cathryn and Stella; his daughter, Liz Jones-Dilworth, her husband, Josh, and their daughters, Claudia and Quincy; his son, William Jones, his wife, Megan (Hess), and their children, Anchor, Alma, Archie, Asher and Alice. He is also survived by his brothers, Jerry (wife Jo), Clinton (wife Patty), John (wife Chris); and his sister, Barbara Maurer (husband Paul). He is survived by many brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 2, from 5-7 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. The funeral will also be at Sacred Heart on Thursday, July 3, at 11 a.m. followed by lunch. Donations in Curt’s memory can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or a local cause that’s meaningful to you.