On New Year’s Day in the year 1930, a son, Gayland Edward Jones, was welcomed into the family of the late Raymond and Josephine (nee Gay) Jones at their home in Omro. On February 21, 2021 Gayland complete his earthly journey and went to join the Heavenly choir. He was confirmed into membership of Trinity Lutheran Church in Borth, now Immanuel of Auroraville, on September 14, 1956 by the Reverend W.H. Lippmann.
Gayland is a 1948 graduate of Omro High School. He served his country from 1951-1953 during the Korean Conflict, taking his basic training at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas and then being stationed at “C” Battery, 502nd Anti Aircraft Artillery Base in Alaska. He was discharged and returned to his home in Omro on Good Friday in the year 1953.
On September 22, 1956 he was united in marriage to Beverly Lehman and Grace Lutheran Church in Omro. This union was blessed with two sons, Lee and Ray, both of Omro. He was blessed with a beautiful singing voice and enjoyed singing and was active for many years in church choirs, Oshkosh Choraliers, the Messiah and the Green Lake Festival and also will be remembered for providing vocal music for numerous weddings and funerals. He was a mechanic in Omro for many years and ended his years of employment at a wood working shop in Oshkosh.
Gayland is survived by his children: Lee & Diane and Ray Jones, of Omro; grandchildren: Kenneth Jones of Oshkosh, Crystal (Mike Matsche) Chitel of Hortonville and Katie Jones of Oshkosh; great-grandson, Remi Matsche; sister, Marilyn Stark of Ripon; nieces, nephews, cousins, and a multitude of friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly; parents, Raymond and Josephine Jones; a sister, Betty Hoffmann; grandparents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lewis and Lilah Lehman; brother-in-law, Marvin Stark; and stepmother, Verna Jones.
A private family service will be held. Burial with military honors will be in Borth Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Immanuel Lutheran Church of Auroraville or the Omro Public Library.