Eric Jones

Eric J. Jones, age 55, of Quincy, Illinois, formerly of Loraine, Illinois unexpectedly passed away on Saturday, August 24, 2024, in Perry, Missouri.  He was born in Quincy, IL on September 17, 1968, a son of Merlyn W. and Florence S. (Stoneking) Jones. He married Jeni Yaeger on May 2, 2015, in Quincy, Illinois. They have been together as a couple since August 1998.

Eric was a 1986 graduate of Unity High School. He has enjoyed several careers over his life. He worked in automotive parts for many years, gaining an encyclopedic knowledge of cars, parts and part numbers. He also worked as a service manager for 7 years at a motorcycle dealership in Iowa. Eric recently retired from his “side job” which was a 30-year career teaching motorcycle safety classes at Quincy Airport. He truly loved sharing his love for riding and had a gift for teaching. He also worked as a service technician for Coca Cola for the past 20 years. Eric had many interests, most involving outdoor activities. One, of course, was riding motorcycles. He had a passion for riding and always worked to improve his significant skills. He and Jeni took multiple trips to ride iconic roads and to see different parts of the country and met many new friends along the way. He loved to hunt and spent as much time as he could pursuing deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, antelope, elk and bear. This coincided with his passion for firearms and acquiring marksmanship with all methods of hunting. He greatly enjoyed fishing. He credits his good friend and mentor, Bill, with teaching him the way to fish successfully on the river as well as its safe navigation. His other favorite fishing buddies were his brothers Dave and Brad, with whom he always looked forward to spending time with. Eric was also known for taking almost any new tool or product he obtained and finding a way to modify and improve it so it became “the way it should have been made.” Within the (mechanically inclined) members of the family this was known as “Jonesing”. Eric was incredibly proud of his kids and how they have all grown to be caring, intelligent, successful and hardworking people. He especially loved the time he got to spend with his kids and grandkids and was grateful that he was included in their activities as they grew and started families of their own.

Eric is survived by his wife, Jeni Yaeger; Children, Rachel Jones of Quincy, Beth (Jeff) Myers of Palmyra, MO, Kellie Campbell of Beardstown, IL and Riley (Alexis Giffin) Jones of Quincy, IL; Grandchildren, Annabella Will and Sophia Ingels of Quincy, IL, Natalie and Lydia Myers of Palmyra, MO, and Rhys Spears of Beardstown IL; Brothers, David Jones (Jamie Bahr) of Festus, MO, Bradley (Heather) Jones of Cape Girardeau, MO and Bryan Jones of Jasper, TX. Very special Uncle and Aunt, Robert and Sherry Stoneking, Aunt Carol Harms and Uncle Presley Stoneking. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

Eric was preceded in death by his parents and much-loved pet GSD, Roxy.

A Memorial Service for Eric will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at the Triplett Funeral Home in Mendon, Illinois. Pastor Ron Tallcott to officiate the service. Luncheon will immediately follow at the Loraine Community Church in Loraine, IL. 

The Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday morning from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 12:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to Eric’s grandchildren's education fund. Please make checks payable to Jeni Yaeger. 

Floral Tributes and Memorial Gifts may be viewed at: https://my.gather.app/remember/eric-jones-2024