Donald Roger Jones, 72, of Crabtree passed away Wednesday.

Don "DJ" "Papa" was born in Alhambra, Calif., son of Bessie Anna May (Rogers) and Harvey Britton Jones. Don grew up in Alhambra/Rosemead, Calif., finishing school at Rosemead High.

Don married his first wife at a young age. In 1973 they moved to Albany and divorced shortly after. On April 3, 1977, he married his soul mate, Susan "Susie" Cray in Reno, Nev.; they have been inseparable until his passing. They settled in Crabtree in the fall of 1978.

Don, known as a jack of all trades, worked at Chem-Therm Manufacturing in Monrovia, Calif., from 1957 to 1959, as a draftsman; and Daily Saw Service in South Gate, Calif., from 1959 to 1967, in customer relations. He owned Val D'OR Inc. and Don Wan Enterprises in San Fernando, Calif., building and installing custom cabinet doors. He worked at Golden West Mobile Homes in Albany from 1972-1973. In 1973, he started at Oregon Freeze Dry Foods in Albany as a shift foreman, ending as production superintendent in 1981. He owned his own cabinet and woodworking shop, Artistry in Wood, from 1982 to 1989. Starting in 1989, he worked as an inspector at Linn Benton Housing Authority in Albany; he retired as the property manager in 2002. The following week he started part time as LBHA Asset Manager, until February 2008.

Don joined Crabtree Volunteer Fire Association in February 1979, holding numerous ranks throughout his 31 l/2 years, retiring as division chief in disaster preparedness in August 2010. He was a paramedic, the founder of Crabtree-Scio CERT team and helped create the OR-OSHA approved first aid classes. He was Santa for 21 consecutive years (retiring December 2006) at the annual Santa Nite, held at the Crabtree Fire Station.

Don loved helping and spending time with his family. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking and working on the never-ending remodeling of their home with Susie. Don was a loving, caring, hardworking man and will be greatly missed by many.

Don is survived by his wife, Susie; sons Tim R. Jones and wife Cheri of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and Mark Jones and mate Kathy Robbinson of Albany; daughters Tamara Read and husband Bryan of Keller, Texas, and Lorri D. Olsen and mate Brent Smith of Albany; adopted son Darin Colgan of Crabtree; nine Grandchildren (soon to be 11), two great-grandchildren; sister Katherine Holman of Nogales, Ariz., brother-in-law Gunther Herrmann of Payson, Ariz., and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He loved his in-laws, Mom Dee, Jay, Teresa and Eric and Kari, and close friends George and Esther Hersom and Jeff McMahon.

He was preceded in death by both parents; sister Lucille Herrmann; and brother Harvey B. "Bud" Jones Jr.

A viewing will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home with burial to follow at Willamette Memorial Park.

Don's death was caused by Parkinson's and autonomic neuropathy. Donations in Don's name for the Crabtree Community Club of Samaritan Evergreen Hospice may be sent to AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home, 805 Ellsworth St. S.W., Albany, OR 97321.