Obituary
Paul Shannon Jones, 72, passed away at his home in Port Charlotte on November 14, 2019. Paul was born May 6, 1947 in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Portland, Oregon. Paul proudly served his country as a member of the United States Coast Guard from 1965 to 1975. During that time he served on the icebreaker, Northwind, followed by his assignment as a Special Agent to work the 1972 Republican National Convention in Miami and guarding then Presidential candidate, Richard Nixon.
That service was followed by an assignment with the Coast Guard Intelligence Unit where he was a liaison between the Coast Guard and the Drug Enforcement Administration. He received the Coast Guard Commendation Medal for his assistance to DEA above and beyond the call of duty in the aftermath of the Federal Building Collapse in Miami, Florida in 1974, where he stayed at the site for two full days, helping to locate people in the building and to assist with security and inventory of items. Due to injuries sustained during this time, he retired and moved back to Oregon.
He attended Portland State University and left during his 4th year to start work with the Washington State Patrol Drug Unit. He worked as both an undercover agent and later as an administrator receiving an award from the Chief of the Patrol for putting together the largest cocaine conspiracy case in the history of Washington State. After his son Jason was born in 1983, he decided the safer choice of law enforcement was to go into uniform and work the road as a State Trooper. Due to his love of fishing and being on the water, Paul ran a charter boat for three years specializing in salmon and halibut upon leaving the Washington State Patrol.
In 1993 he relocated his family to Port Charlotte and continued to enjoy fishing and boating and found a new love, Pop Warner Football. His son started playing and the following year Paul was encouraged to become the President of the Charlotte Warriors. After serving for a time in that capacity, he became President of the Peace River Conference and then helped on the Region Management Team. He loved being part of a team and felt like he had found the same type of comradery he had in his career. He held very fond memories of those he worked with through the years. He missed it a great deal.
Though he was proud of everything he had done in his career, he felt his greatest accomplishment was his family and his faith. He gave credit to wife for bringing faith into his life, his father-in-law, John Kerbow for being able to make it make sense and Chuck Lind for showing him how to open his heart.
He married his wife Belinda in 1981, and they were always working together in everything they did. Watching his children and grandchildren grow and become wonderful and loving people was a great blessing to him. Paul left behind his only “real” mom and dad, John and Betty Kerbow, wife Belinda, son Jason, daughter-in-law Heather, two grandchildren, Paul and Arielle, and as he always said, “his family out west”, including his daughter Terri Lynn, son-in-law Chris and their three sons, Will (Rachael), Charlie (Audra and Otis) and Ben (Maddi) and his beautiful cousins, Marilee Patrick and Deidre Frazier.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Paul on December 14, 2019 at 1:00 p.m., at Rock Calvary Chapel, 4825 Fairway Drive N, Punta Gorda, FL 33982. Since Paul was a “dress casual” individual, we would like you to do the same. Per Paul’s request, in lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to Tidewell Hospice, 1144 Veronica Street, Port Charlotte, FL 33952.
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