In Memoriam, Father Ralph O. Jones

Father Ralph O. Jones died Feb. 13, after a seven-year fight against cancer. Father Jones served as priest-In-charge of Stella Maris Chapel in Lamar.

Born in Portland, Oregon on Aug. 8, 1934 to Ralph and Julia Jones, he attended Seattle University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in education. He later received master's degrees from the University of Detroit, in education, and the University of Washington, in clinical social work. For the 30 years, he served as a teacher and social worker at the Kent School District, as well as a clinical social worker for the U.S. Army, where he served as a reservist. He retired as a full Colonel.

After retirement, Jones joined the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) and was ordained a priest on June 14, 2003. As a SOLT priest he ministered to Native Americans in North Dakota before being assigned to Our Lady of Corpus Christi College.

He is survived by a sister Joann Morrison; a brother Nova Jones and wife Judith; and numerous nephews and nieces.

A Rosary will be recited at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Our Lady of Corpus Christi Chapel with a Funeral Mass to follow at 2 p.m. Interment will be held at the Washington Memorial Park Cemetery in Sea-Tac, Washington.