Merle Vernon Jones

A life well lived! Merle Vernon Jones, Sr. of Waterford, Vt, died on April 1, 2026, having just celebrated his 94th birthday, the week before. He was born on Walden Mountain in March 1932. He attended schools in Walden and spent his boyhood enjoying the great outdoors which included hunting and fishing. As a young man, he worked on dairy farms throughout the Northeast Kingdom.

He married Evelyn Crosier on October 14, 1951, and they raised four children, living in Lyndonville, Newbury. and Peacham. He worked at Fairbanks-Morse Scales Company and was a member of the National Guard for four years. He spent his time at Camp Johnson and at Fort Drum where he cooked for the soldiers. He was a proud member of the Waterford Fire Department and spent many volunteer hours manning the fire gate onto the Interstate. He was quick to respond to take his post, no matter the weather or time of day or night.

He and Evelyn moved to Waterford once their children were grown. Since Evelyn’s death in 2011, Merle had maintained his home, cooking nutritious meals for himself. His greatest passion was gardening and sharing the fruits and vegetables he grew with those he loved.

He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Tourville (Mark), sons Merle Jones, Jr (Connie) and Howard Jones (Koleen), sister Luvia Webster, 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, two great-great- grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and Dunbar cousins and special friends, David and Cheryl Leavitt and Judy and Dale Sherburne.

He was predeceased by his daughter Linda and his granddaughter Lisa who passed away in 1999 and by his mother, Lou Dunbar Webster and stepfather Alden Webster.

Graveside services, with military honors, will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 11 AM at Riverside Cemetery in Waterford.

Donations in Merle’s memory may be directed to Waterford Cemetery Association for gravestone cleaning, PO Box 56, Lower Waterford, VT 05848 or VT Office of Veterans Affairs, Robert E. Burke, Director, 118 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05620-0441.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.CaledoniaLifeServices.com