Moses Jones

Elijah Jeffrey Moses Jones entered this world on a Thursday in Butte, Montana, on July 6, 2006. He came quicker than the nurses thought he would, and surprised us by being born underwater in a jacuzzi. His father drew him out of the water and saw him first. From the beginning, love from his parents and six siblings surrounded Moses.

As you probably noticed, we refer to him as “Moses” instead of “Elijah.” At the age of seven, he requested that people call him by one of his middle names, “Moses,” the name that signified his being drawn from the water.

Moses lived and traveled throughout the world, residing in Montana, Illinois, Idaho, Washington, Scotland, and visiting Italy, Czechia, Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Mexico, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Poland, France, and England.

His interests varied as much as the places he lived and visited. His pursuits included drawing, pottery, collecting antiques, metal work, wood carving, writing fiction and comics, poetry, bodybuilding, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, hiking, reading, D&D, and guitar. Moses found and enjoyed eclectic music, including Mongolian throat singing. Moses loved animals and their natural habitats.  His love of different cultures led to him studying French, Spanish and Ukrainian. Moses performed in eleven dramatic productions, with his first role as Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, and his last as a suitor in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers with a semi-professional company. He also co-directed The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon.

Loyal, kind, and nonjudgmental, Moses lifted those around him, especially those in pain. Laughter was common around Moses. He had a keen, wacky sense of humor.  For instance, he drove his car with a plastic skeleton dressed in a flamboyant shirt in the passenger seat. Never shy of the camera, he perfected his smolder at around four. He followed his own sense of style, dressing with a bolo tie, bucket hat, or for more formal occasions, a kilt.

Moses departed this world on a Thursday in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on July 27, 2023. He left us sooner than we thought. He died next to a bathtub, of a self-inflicted gunshot, after a heroic fight against depression for many years. His father found him and saw him first after his death. Soon after his end, love from his six siblings and parents surrounded Moses again.

Moses was predeceased by his niece, Everly Bagley, who passed away last December at seven months old.

Moses is survived by his parents, Jeffrey and Brittany Jones; and his six siblings, Zachary Jones, Emmanuel Jones, Summer Kraus, Amira Bagley, Sierra Carrier, and Ariana Jones. We love you, Moses. We ache for you. Please now perceive in our hearts what words could not express.

In honor of Moses today, we ask that all who read this to please reach out in one or both of two ways: If you know someone who is struggling, please reach out to connect. If you are struggling, please reach out for connection. No one should struggle alone. Connect. Love. Heal.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2023, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road. A visitation for family and friends will be held Wednesday evening from 6:30-8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to services, both visitations at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Ucon Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2023.