Thomas Jones

Thomas Gerard Jones was born to Cecile "Buck" Jones and Florine Cecelia Cochran-Jones at Fort Belknap Hospital, Harlem, Montana. He began his education in Hays in kindergarten. Tom stated that, "Me and Twin Boy were the first boys to start kindergarten in Hays, and we raised hell!" He attended school in Hays until the completion of the 3rd grade. He then moved to various places due to his mother’s work. His 4th grade year was spent in Lockwood and Ronan. Fifth through 11th grades were spent in West Glacier Columbia Falls, and Riverside in Billings. Tom attended Hays-Lodgepole High School in Hays for his senior year and was in the very first graduating class of HLP. His class created the logo for the school. While in high school, Tom was president of the rodeo club and was an officer in the JROTC for two years.
   Through the years, Tom worked in different places and capacities. From 1974 to 1981 he worked for the US Forest Service and Fort Belknap Police Department. He attended the Bozeman Academy in a class of 39 graduates. He worked as a BLM fire fighter and Helitac crew in Malta until 1988. After that, he farmed with various individuals including his uncle Bobby Lee Cochran and Buddy Walsh. He also worked with Virgil McConnell at Virgil’s sawmill. Beginning in 1993, 
   Tom worked for 24 of those years for Fort Belknap Fish & Game as a game warden. Then he worked for the buffalo program. He held numerous hunter safety courses and also bow courses for the youth until his retirement on 6/2/23. He trapped with his father-in-law, Christopher "Tuffy" Gardipee, Sr. from 1975 until 1996. He considered these some of the best years of his life. Tom received conservationist of the year award in 2012 from Native American Fish & Game Wildlife Society, Great Plains region. He received Conservation officer of the year ln 2021 from Native American Fish & Wildlife Society during the 38th National Conference.
   On June 261 1975, Tom married the love of his life, Vicki Lynn Jones. They celebrated 49 years of marriage this past June. To this union, two daughters were born. Tom and Vicki were blessed with six grandchildren.
   Tom is survived by his loving wife, Vicki, his daughters, Christina (Sara) Jones and Dawn (Floyd, Jr.) McConnell, his grandchildren, Haeli Gardipee, Tobias (Madison} Jones, Zarek (Mia) Jones, Aaralyn Walker, Simyra Walker, and Israel Jaquin. He is also survived by his siblings, brothers Matthew (Celina) Jones, Kenneth (Kim) Jones, Jesse (Debby) Jones, Darrin (Cheryl) Finley, sisters Audrey Jones, Wanda (Mike) Jones, Laura Simpson, Zita (Bryan) Jones, Karen Jones, and Mary (Mike) Booth, stepmother Pauline Jones, and his godchildren.
   He was preceded in death by his parents, his paternal grandparents Cecil Jones and Eva Turcotte-Jones, his maternal grandparents Frank Cochran and Rosie Matt Jones, sisters Daryl Brockie and Karma Cochran, one angel child lost in 1976, and beloved dog Savana.

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