Hundreds in attendance for remembrance of Great Falls' Bob Jones

Hundreds turned out late Saturday morning to honor former longtime police chief and city commissioner Bob Jones at the Civic Center in downtown Great Falls.

Jones, whose military and public service career spanned 50 years, passed away on Jan. 14 at the age of 72.

Several blocks around the Civic Center were blocked off prior to the funeral by fire and police vehicles as honor guards from the Great Falls Police Department and Malmstrom Air Force Base silently awaited the arrival of Jones’ remains.

Dozens of officers with GFPD and the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office and members of Great Falls Fire Rescue were in attendance in remembrance of Jones, who served as police chief from 1986 to 2006.

“Good day to rob a bank, I guess,” Jones’ son Casey quipped to a roar of laughter in the Mansfield Theater, tipping the cap to his father’s sense of humor.

“Dad was a jokester, and he knew how to lead people,” Casey said.

Doug Jones, another of Bob’s three sons with a wife of 50 years Janice, said his father had a special way with people.

“Dad had a lot of friends,” Doug said, “and when he made a friend, he kept them forever.”

Son Jeremy Jones, the current fire chief for Great Falls Fire Rescue, thanked those who had reached out to the family in support.

“The community over the past week…they knew the pride (Jones) had for his community,” Jeremy said.

Robert Gerard Jones, known as “Jonesy” to those who knew him well, was born in Great Falls on Jan. 17, 1949, to parents James W. Jones and Dorothy Ann Jones. He graduated from Great Falls High in 1967 and joined the Montana Air National Guard as a senior in high school. Jones’ career with MANG lasted over 30 years and he retired as a major at the State Command Staff in Helena, according to his obituary.

After working construction jobs following air guard basic training, Jones joined GFPD in 1971, working in patrol and as a detective for 15 years before taking the head job in 1986. After retiring from GFPD and MANG, Jones returned to public service in 2009 when he ran for the city commission and served on the body for another eight years.

Jones’ legacy extends beyond his accomplishments in law enforcement and at city hall, the family wrote in his obituary, describing him as a “champion of second chances.”

“He was truly the type of person that accepted others where they were in life,” Jones’ obit reads. “He was never better than the person sitting next to him … He had a rare gift of engaging people and would regale his audience with outrageously entertaining stories.”

Son Casey recalled a day in high school when his father was called to the principal’s office, as Casey was caught with a fake ID.

The elder Jones told sternly told Casey to accompany him to his truck, and the long walk through the halls of Great Falls High was filled with silence.

After expressing his disappointment, Jones parted ways with some advice for his son: “Next time don’t be so stupid,” Casey recalled his father saying. “Six-foot-2 (on the fake ID)?! Give me a break!”

Jones is survived by his wife Janice “Jiggs,” sons Doug, Casey and Jeremy, and 12 grandchildren.

Saturday’s service concluded with GFPD and Malmstrom honor guards presenting American flags to the Jones family on the steps of the Civic Center, as well as a 21-gun salute and the playing of “Taps.”

Father Doug Krings presided over the service, with music performed by Joel Corda, Lindsey Nussbaum and bagpiper Jesse Callender.

Jeremy Jones said his father set a commendable example for the residents of Great Falls and others in public service.

“If we could have the impact that Dad had on this community, it will be a better place,” he concluded.

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Hundreds attend funeral for ex-Great Falls police chief Bob Jones