Micheal F. Jones

Micheal F Jones, 64, passed away peacefully in his sleep, Sunday the 28th of December, 2025. Mike came into this world as an Air Force brat and traveled with his family across the United States to various Air Force Bases, from the East coast to the West coast. Mike loved to travel, and at the tender age of 17, joined the U.S. Navy. Mike, along with his best friend in the Navy, Pete Pontier, served with an elite swift boat team known as SBU-12. The unit was responsible for operating high-speed craft in support of U.S. Navy SEALs. Like most service veterans, Mike had a plethora of stories, some of them incredibly hilarious, and most of them involving his best friend Pete. After the Navy, Mike worked for several defense contractors, one being Metric Systems Corporation, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. There he worked in the Vertical Launch Systems Division, where Mike was responsible for final test of the electronics used by Lockheed Martin in their Fleet defense systems. Upon returning to Louisville, Mike worked for Naval Ordnance Station, and then Raytheon. Later on, he worked as an industrial maintenance mechanic at Smurfit-Stone Corporation, and then Sealed Air Corporation. In retirement, Mike enjoyed riding his Harley and, along with his son, Jesse, participated in a Toys for Tots biker run, and a few charity poker runs. Mike also had a mechanical aptitude, and could often be found helping friends or family fix a broken car, truck or motorcycle. Mike also enjoyed and understood British humor TV shows. One of his favorites was Red Dwarf, and in years passed, Blackadder, and anything Monty Python. He was often overheard, by his children, laughing hysterically at some of the underlying humor, which, to them, they couldn’t possibly understand. Mike loved his children, nieces and nephews. He was especially crazy about his grandchildren. They knew him as Grampy. At Christmas and birthdays he often spoiled them with thoughtful and meaningful gifts. And he almost always added an envelope which held a little something extra. Mike had a way of making each of his grandchidren believe they were “the special one”. Mike loved to attend their ballgames and school activities whenever possible. In his later years Mike developed a ruggedly handsome, gruff exterior. But inside he was all teddybear, with a heart of gold. He made many lifelong friends over the years, all of whom will miss his quick wit and sense of humor. Mike’s family is grateful to all those who reached out and kept Mike filled with home cooked meals, which he loved, and delicious home made desserts, which he loved even more. Mike was a decent cook himself, but always believed food tasted better, when someone else prepared it. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Franklin D Jones and Julia Ditzler Jones; and the love of his life Barbara Kirchner. Mike is survived by his children, Jean Shoemaker (Fred), Jesse Jones (Mackenzie), and James Carnell; his grandchildren, Lana, Rosalee, Mia, Jesse, Waylon, Riley, and Elijah; his siblings, Paula Hamrick (Ron), and Frank Jones (Angela). Mike’s celebration of life will be held at the Owen Funeral Home, 5317 Dixie Highway, Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, at 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, with a memorial service immediately following. Mike will be Interred with full military honors at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central, on the following Monday, January 5th, 2026, at 10:30 am.

Micheal F. Jones

January 3, 1961 - December 28, 2025