Michael Jones

The world lost a kind and generous spirit on November 25th, 2020, when Michael Houston Jones, 64 of Portales, NM, passed away in his home.

Michael was born in Clovis, NM on April 5th, 1956, to Carol Lynn Watkins-Campbell and Ellis Jones. He was quickly followed by his twin, Danny, and the shenanigans commenced almost immediately. Six years later to the day ,David came along and all hope was lost. But Carol rose valiantly to the challenge and raised some amazing men.

After graduating from Portales High School in 1974, Michael went on to earn an associate’s degree in 1977 from Eastern New Mexico University-Clovis in commercial refrigeration and a second degree in 1978 in electronic engineering. He won multiple awards, including two VICA state/national comp championships. Michael also took classes in jewelry making and became a talented jeweler in his own right.

Initially destined for a career in motocross, Michael’s dreams were cut short when he sustained a serious injury at the Midway Race Track. He went on to work in Portales at Poynor’s, Joe D. Ray Trucking, and Eastern New Mexico University. In 1982, he moved to Lubbock and worked as a test engineer at Texas Instruments, standing on the ground floor of the birth of personal computers. A few years later he moved to Albuquerque, NM, and worked as an engineer and fabricator for Signetics, Phillips, and then for Intel, doing a short stint in Colorado Springs in the process. He retired from Intel in 2007 and moved back to Portales to be among family and close friends.

While Michael went to school with a lovely girl named Cathy Venetta, they didn’t start dating until years later and were married in 2011. He is survived by Cathy, his brothers Danny, Anthony, and David, his daughter Melissa Bonem, and two grandchildren, Kyle and Darin. Six weeks after Michael arrived at the pearly gates, his mother decided to join him there, probably to keep an eye on him. Because someone has to.

To say that Michael touched many lives would be an unjust understatement. His favorite quote, “The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of,” fits him to a tee. An avid book collector, Tesla Coil aficionado, and packrat, he will forever be remembered for his gentle soul and his slow smile.

Due to the lunacy of the last year and their wishes, we will be having a simple graveside service for both Mother and Son. Carol and Michael’s ashes will be interred together with family.

The service is open to the public at Wheeler Cemetery, Portales, NM, Friday April 9th at 10am.