John Mac Jones was born on May 4, 1938, the second child of Boyd and Mary (Keller) Jones, in Hyannis, Nebraska.
In 1947, he moved to Colby, Kansas, with his parents, one sister, Marjorie Ann, and two brothers, Robert Boyd and William Howard. The Jones family moved back to Hyannis in 1952. John worked on ranches and the REA (Rural Electric Association) on weekends and summers during school. John worked for several years at the Dumbell Ranch, north of Hyannis. In addition to his regular ranch duties, he used horses to put up hay. During his school years, he also worked for the lumber yards in Ashby, Nebraska, and Hyannis, where he helped unload many coal and gravel railroad cars.
John graduated from Hyannis High School in 1956.
During high school, he met the love of his life, H. Marlene Lincoln. John and his future bride then attended Chadron State College. John earned a Bachelor of Arts in business administration in 1960 and another bachelor's degree in banking from the University of Colorado School of Banking at Boulder, Colorado, in 1974.
While on the way to higher education, John Mac Jones stopped off in Fort Collins, Colorado, and eloped with Hilka Marlene Lincoln, and they became husband and wife, starting a 64-year loving life together. Three children were produced to this union: Tim, Kelly and Matt.
John and Marlene made their home in Hyannis, Nebraska, where John worked for the lumberyard. While living in Hyannis, their first child, Timothy Scott, was born in Alliance, Nebraska. They moved the family to Mullen, Nebraska, where two children were born: Kelly Suzann and John Matthew.
John began working at The Bank of Mullen on April 15, 1961, starting as a teller and working his way up to bank president and Managing Officer of Mullen and Director of Bank of Hyannis; positions he occupied for 40+ years.
John was also the president of Western National Bank in North Platte, Nebraska, in Mullen, until retiring from the banking world.
John’s time in Mullen was not just work. He enjoyed many things: Sandhills Sharptail Grouse Hunt, Past Shooters Club; a member of the School Board of Mullen; Commercial Club president; belonged to the Methodist Church; active on “the chain gang” football crew for Mullen High School, and Hyannis High School; loved boating; fishing; hunting; taking his kids and grandkids camping and going to state and federal parks in the United States.
John and Norb Schenck organized trips to professional football trips, too. Grilling is where John shined in cooking; John often partook in long rides to take in the western Nebraska countryside, his home, allowing him to stargaze and contemplate the mysteries of God's life and Mother Earth. He was a lifelong Huskers fan, driving often to games in Lincoln, Nebraska (football and volleyball). John was also a Kansas City Chiefs fan, and enjoyed golfing at Mullen Golf Club, Sand Hills Golf Club near Mullen, and the Pelican Beach Golf Club in Hyannis.
John was an active member of Zion Lodge No. 234, Hyannis for 50 years. John belonged to the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry in Alliance. John was a 32-degree Scottish Rite Member; John was a member of Order of The Eastern Star Winfred Chapter #292 until it closed in Mullen. Past Master of Mullen Masonic Lodge, the Eastern Star Sunshine Chapter #261, Thedford, Nebraska.
John enjoyed storytelling (both real and invented) and jokes. He loved it when family or friends came to visit.
In their retirement, John and Marlene moved from Mullen to Sun City West, Arizona, where they lived for 20+ years. While there, he enjoyed the sunshine, eating fruit from the trees in their yard, watching grouse and the wildlife, golfing, and driving his golf cart.
John spent the last three years in the Risen Sun retirement community due to complications from surgery issues.
John loved kids. He enjoyed his own kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and his puppy, Bella. He loved his nieces, nephews, and cousins and was a mentor to many people throughout his life.
John’s kind and loving nature made him easy to talk with and trust.
John’s motto was “Be kind.”
Burial for John will be Saturday, June 15 at 10:00 a.m. in Hyannis at the cemetery, with a reception following at the Episcopal Church. The family would love to catch up with friends if possible!