SOUTH FREEPORT — Stuart Edward Jones Jr., 78, died unexpectedly Nov. 23 at Maine Medical Center surrounded by his family.

Born on Jan. 1, 1933 he was the only son of Frances Paxson Jones and Stuart E. Jones Sr. Jones was raised and educated in Maryland and graduated with a degree in history from the University of Maryland, College Park. He did some graduate work in geography at McGill University in Montreal and received an M.Ed from Bridgewater State College in Mass. 

He was very proud of his service as a first lieutenant and member of a flight crew in the U.S. Air Force. After completing his service, he taught history and became department chair at Bourne High School on Cape Cod.

Jones entered into educational publishing and later became New England regional manager for Rand McNally, Chicago and marketing manager at American Science and Engineering in Cambridge, Mass. Before retiring he worked as a real estate broker for Vincent Associates in Falmouth, Mass. and in the marine industry in Galesville, Md. and South Dartmouth, Mass.

Jones and his wife, Victoria Devlin, moved to Maine in 1997 to being a place they loved and closer to his two daughters. He became an active member of the South Freeport Church, volunteered for 15 years at Maine Handicapped Skiing, was the chair of the Conservation Commission for the town of Falmouth, Mass., and was a senior judge of U.S. Sailing.

Sailboat racing and alpine skiing were two of Jones’s greatest passions and he believed that he was also becoming a worthy golfing companion. Over the years he owned and skippered many boats from one-designs to his favorite Sabre 36 Solstice that he successfully raced for almost 15 years. He began skiing at Sugarloaf in the 1950s and skied at least 60 days a year at Sunday River over the last 20 years; his daily goal was to get in the “10 by 10,” ten runs in by 10 a.m. He also enjoyed snowshoeing, cross country skiing and kayaking.

He is survived by his wife, Victoria Devlin; daughters Frances Paxson Jones Philip of South Freeport and Sarah Virginia Jones Boudrea of Norfolk, Va.; son-in-law George Philip; step-brother Paul D. Sheats; cousin Jack Phillips and his wife Ann; brother-in-law John Devlin and his wife Terry Ahern Devlin; sister-in-law Helen Devlin; and his 14-year old tuxedo cat, Cammie Lou.

A celebration of his life was held on Dec. 3 at the South Freeport Church. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts can be made to Maine Handicapped Skiing, Stuart Jones Memorial Gifts, 8 Sundance Lane, Newry, ME 04261 or Coastal Humane Society, Stuart Jones Memorial Gifts, 30 Range Road, Brunswick, ME 04011.