Donald Ray Jones

Donald Ray Jones passed away on March 29, 2022 at his home in Corona, CA with family by his side. He had retired from Sutter Tracy Community Hospital in late 2016 from his career as a Physician Assistant and relocated to Corona in 2019 to be close to family. Born on January 27, 1956 in Tracy CA, Don grew up in Tracy and Manteca, graduating from Manteca High School in 1974. He studied at Delta Community College before entering the U.S. Navy. Don honed his craft in emergency medicine stationed aboard the USS Shasta from 1976-80 as a Medical Corpsman and became a Licensed Vocational Nurse while developing a love for travel. Upon honorable discharge, Don completed his collegiate studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology in 1983. Throughout his college career he maintained his nursing license, working at Santa Barbara's Cottage Hospital and the former Tracy Community Memorial Hospital, where he met his future wife Kathy Minner, while also becoming a paramedic. After college graduation, Don settled in Tracy, marrying Kathy and raising three daughters. Don served his community as a paramedic supervisor and manager for the various agencies in Tracy and Stockton from 1983-97 and also as a volunteer firefighter for the Tracy Rural Fire Department. In 1997, he relocated with Kathy and their youngest two daughters to Western Massachusetts and managed the ambulance services for American Medical Response in Springfield, MA. Ultimately it was decided their hearts were in California and Don's next goal was to become a Physician Assistant. They returned to California in 2000 after Don was accepted into Stanford University's Physician Assistant program. During his P.A. course studies and upon graduation from Stanford in 2003 he worked with physicians in some of Tracy's private practices and primarily in the Emergency Department at Sutter Tracy Hospital until his early retirement in December 2016. Don loved his work but was equally passionate about sports and travel, visiting all 50 United States, Washington D.C. and multiple US territories. Much of this was accomplished via cross country road trips to visit family and friends. Don and Kathy spent many vacations exploring the islands of Hawaii until they discovered their love for cruising and enjoyed cruises to Mexico and the Caribbean, Alaska, Australia, through the Panama Canal and across the Atlantic; meeting a group of close friends along the way and cruising with them throughout recent years. Don was an avid San Francisco Giants fan and enjoyed regular outings to games in San Francisco and other National League cities, as well as trips to Scottsdale for Spring Training. For many years Don and Kathy were San Francisco 49ers season ticket holders, also enjoying trips to see the team play on the road, most notably against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, WI in 2018. Don was a devoted husband, supportive father and doting "Grampy" to his five grandchildren. He is survived by his loving wife Kathy; daughters Keriann Jones and her children Julien, Ruby and Tristan of Corona; Kimberly Schneider and her sons Zachary and Nicholas of Vista, and Kelly Jones of Fresno; sister Sharon Stevens; brother Richard Jones; and brother-in-law Larry Minner (Carol) of Tracy. He was preceded in death by his parents Barbara Jean (Bobbie) and Richard Jones and Andy Corso; grandparents Leola and Merlin Strain; his uncle Jeris (Jerry) Strain; mother-in-law Ruby Minner and brother-in-law Dr. David Minner. Donations may be made in Don's memory to benefit children's medical foundations St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org) and the HoldYou foundation (holdyou.org). Walker Family Funeral & Cremation Services in Corona is handling final arrangements and a Celebration of Life is planned for Sunday, May 15 at the Banta Inn from 2-5 p.m. Service Banta Inn 22563 S. 7th St Tracy, CA 95304 Sunday 5/15, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm