In memoriam: Elvet Jones, 1922-2015

Elvet Glyn Jones, 93, passed away June 12, 2015, in Laguna Hills, Calif. He was born in Canada in May 1922 in Victoria, B.C., to Welsh emigrants and moved to the U.S. as a young adult. He is professor emeritus of the psychology department at Western Washington University in Bellingham.

In 1974, Elvet lost his beloved wife Joyce and became a single parent to his children ages 11, 14, and 16. He is missed terribly by his now grown children Lauren (Marc) Likkel, Valerie (Rob) Flack, and Gregory (Kristy) Jones as well as grandchildren Hannah and Jacob Jones, and Olivia Flack. He was deeply loved by his children, who remember the unconditional love and support he provided, and the values and ethics he lived.

Elvet is deeply missed by his love of the last 32 years, Florence Gordon; and he is lovingly remembered by Florence's children, Steve (Jill) Gordon, Mark (Risa) Gordon, and Judy (Orin) Kohon, and the five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is survived by his sister Mary Edwards and her children and grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and close friends Ann and John Bremer.

He was a gentle, loving person with a great sense of humor, who liked to teach and was concerned for equal rights and social justice. A long-term resident of the US, he obtained dual US and Canada citizenship when he was 81 years old which allowed him to vote his conscience instead of just talking about it.

Elvet enjoyed gardening, including huge dahlia gardens and an eight foot poinsettia plant. He was a talented piano player, and at age 8 sold newspapers to pay for piano lessons. Elvet enjoyed Cribbage and won many Laguna Woods Cribbage Club tournaments, and won a weekly club tournament three weeks before he passed away. He used the internet for email, shopping, and information, but never completely understood "Spacebook".

Elvet is predeceased by his first wife, Joyce Tyer (Parker) Jones, his brothers Bob, Griffith, and Gordon, and his parents Robert Evan Jones and Mary Elizabeth Jones.

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday July 25, 2015 at 11am in Bellingham Washington. This site will be updated when the location for the celebration has been chosen. Memorial donations may be made to one of his favorite charities, Doctors Without Borders.