Clarence Jones, 92 years old, passed away on January 21, 2017.   He was born August 30, 1924 to Clyde and Vera Jones of Springfield, MO.  He attended Central High School in Springfield and went in to the Army in 1943.  He was honored for scoring the highest score of any soldier up to that time on the Army's mechanical aptitude test.  He was assigned as a forward observer in the 42nd Rainbow Division and took part in some vicious battles toward the end of World War II.
After the war he married Justeen Marie Combs and five children were born from their union.  He is proceeded in death by two wives, Billie, and Norma, and his middle son Danny.  He leaves behind a sister Martha Cole, two sons, Bill Jones of Bolivar, MO and David Jones of Everton, MO, two daughters, Rita Coombs of Republic, MO and Cathy Beshears of Everton, MO, along with 9 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
He was the founder and owner of Barnes Hardware Store located west of Springfield, MO from 1958 to 1963.  He later owned and operated Jones True Value Hardware and Rexall Drug Store in Ash Grove, MO from 1963 to 1973.
He retired at the age of 49 and immediately took up fine woodworking and the reproduction of antique and Ethan Allen style furniture.  During that time he invented a wood lathe spindle duplicator and sold the rights to that invention to the Sears Company.
He also developed an interest in Model T restoration and built a personal collection of restored model Ts as well as restoring a number of Model Ts for other antique car collectors.  One of his personal favorites is his calliope wagon, from which he has gained a lot of recognition.
He and his last wife Norma, were together for 13 years.  She passed away in 2013.  They were both proud members of several car clubs including Model Ts of the Ozarks, The Model A Club, Fairview Car Club and the Heartland Car Club.
His many accomplishments include obtaining his private pilot's license in the late 50's and owning and flying his own plane.  While in the hardware business he was a sales contest with the grand prize of a trip to Europe.  He single handedly captured a two star German General during World War II, who was trying to flee the town of Rosenburg, Germany, and he was one of the first 20 Amercian soldiers who walked in to Dachau prison camp and set the Jewish prisoners free.
When he came home from the war he was a motorcycle mechanic and built a motorcycle for a rider who finished in the money at the Daytona 500 motorcycle race.  When he first moved to the country and took up farming, even though jobs were hard to find, he was able to find work at a rock quarry busting rocks with a sledge hammer all day.
He was a successful feed salesman, an exceptional woodworker, furniture maker, and machinist.  He was also an accomplished business man, a museum owner, museum curator, and a humorous story teller.  He accepted the Lord and was baptized at a young age.  He was also a faithful member of the Baptist men's breakfast club at Ash Grove, MO.
Although he was often saddened by the fact that he had outlived most of his old friends, there will be many people left behind in Southwest, Missouri who knew him and will miss his wit and wisdom.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 24, 2017 in Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel.  Burial will follow in Hazelwood Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Tuesday in the funeral home.