Timothy Ralph Jones passed away on April 21, 2023, following a prolonged battle with prostate cancer. He was 77. Tim spent his final months in Seattle being cared for by his daughter, with invaluable assistance from his three adult sons, family, friends and Virginia Mason health care team.

A Washingtonian at Heart

Tim was born on February 9th, 1946, at Virginia Mason hospital in Seattle to the former Eileen Barry and Glenn Jones of Burien, Washington. Tim was a lifelong Washingtonian and often enjoyed its incredible natural beauty from the helm of his cherished classic boat.

A Veteran's Service to His Country

Following graduation from Highline Secondary School in 1964, Tim enlisted in the United States Air Force Reserve, where he graduated with honors from the U.S. Air Force Aircraft Engine Mechanical school and was assigned to temporary duty in Mildenhall, England. 

​Following His Dreams

Upon his release from active duty and return to Seattle, Tim followed in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps at Boeing where he worked on 747, 727 and other aircraft production lines and further honed his mechanical skills. In 1972 and against his parents’ wishes, Tim charted a new course, leaving Boeing and enrolling at Western Washington University where he earned a B.S. in Visual Communications with an emphasis in still photography.

​A Master Mariner

After his graduation in 1974, Tim moved to Orcas Island to start a family and career. For the next 40 years, Tim lived, worked and played amidst the San Juan and Gulf Islands, Salish Sea, and Puget Sound. Tim was a licensed captain and operated a sole proprietorship which provided repair, towing and rescue services to stranded boaters–frequently forging through storms that even the Coast Guard opted to wait out. Among his notable accomplishments was a daring rescue of a family with an infant from an imperiled houseboat in Blind Bay during a biblical force winter storm.

​A Man of Ingenuity and Humor

Throughout his life, Tim was known for his innate mechanical ingenuity and appreciation for fine details, his introspective but goofy nature and big grins. He loved to get a laugh out of you, and every time he answered a phone call, he would greet you with “By golly, it must be [your name]… ”, and in response to the question of how he was doing, he’d reply with “Pretty good for a geezer!” 

His Passions and Hobbies

Tim was passionate about classic vehicles, including his beautiful blue 1967 Pontiac GTO with all the bells and whistles - “the finest design to ever come out of Detroit” in his words. In 1987, he came across an abandoned and neglected 1957 Skagit Saratogan. Serendipitously, this was the same boat he had encountered as an 11-year old at the Seattle Boat Show. He bought the boat, hauled it home and subsequently spent the next 20+ years painstakingly restoring it. The ‘Sweet Zoanna’, as he rechristened it, draws attention and compliments from boat enthusiasts near and far; it is a testament to Tim’s craftsmanship and eye for beauty. Tim was an avid cyclist, a music aficionado, a budding baker, a history buff, and a photophile. As a young adult, he was a downhill and water skier, hiker, and mountain climber, summiting both Mount Baker and Mount Rainier. He was proud of his Irish heritage and loved spending time with his family and friends - even better if he could share time with them on the water. 

Enriched by Lifelong Friendships

Tim spoke frequently of his lifelong friendships (and related shenanigans) with Steve Morris, Bob Boice, Larry Landstrom, and Monty Edwards. In more recent years, he made several great friends including Bruce Bridwell, Kelly Jacobs and others through the Skagit Club, Swantown Marina, and Boston Harbor. They say that the company you keep reflects on your character, and we should all be so fortunate to have friends like these.

​A Legacy Worth Celebrating

In his later years, Tim pondered the idea of his legacy. He lived, worked, and raised a family in one of the most pristine and beautiful places in the world, creating memories and experiences most don’t get to enjoy. He built a community around shared passions through the Skagit Boat Club. He was an honest, hard worker, and his career was one that was meaningful to those he served and brought him much personal satisfaction. To his four children, he passed on his love for the ocean and the natural world, his appreciation for great music, his work ethic and sense of responsibility, his curiosity and willingness to figure things out, his sense of humor, and his love for family.

​Remembering Tim

Tim was preceded in death by his infant sister Janice, mother Eileen, brother James, and father Glenn. He is survived by his sister Connie Mitchell; four adult children: Graeme, Zoanna, Barry, and Jubal; five grand-children: Brogan, Coralie, Rorik, Tula and Arlin; and his best buddy and four-legged first mate, Tito. Tim is deeply missed by all who knew him.

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