VASSALBORO – Carleton E. Jones, 88, of Vassalboro, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2023, at his home, surrounded by his wife and children.

Carleton was born Sept. 2, 1934, in Waterville, Maine. He was the son of the late Allen and Phyllis (Leith) Jones.

Carleton grew up in Stoneham, Mass. In 1963, he moved to Maine to the farm of his grandfather, Ezra Jones. Carleton taught machine tool at Waterville High School until his retirement in 1989. Many former students over the years visited him to discuss the successful careers they went on to achieve. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman. He used to take his classes on annual deep sea fishing excursions, and many students spent time hunting with Carleton in the back woods.

Upon retirement, Carleton spent his days outdoors where he most loved to be. He and his wife planted a forest of pine trees, an apple orchard, and he built many stonewalls on the farm. Carleton shared his love of stonewalls by building them throughout Central Maine as part of the family business.

An avid gardener, he had the most bountiful, weed free vegetable gardens every year, saving his own seeds and cultivating his own varieties. He was a gifted artist, builder, and inventor. He loved a good challenge and never passed up an opportunity to try something new. He was a machinist by trade, and among many things he created, he built his house, a boat house, and numerous ponds around his property. A man of many talents, he also had a beautiful singing voice and sang for the Boston boys’ choir, was a scuba diver, a Mason, got his private pilot’s license, was selected as Maine and the Northeast Regional Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year for 1996, and even tried his hand at wine making. From all these adventures came many stories, which his family will be sharing for many years to come.

Carleton is survived by his wife of 68 years Maetta (Patton) Jones, daughters, Cindy Jones Spaulding of Albion, Laura Jones of Vassalboro and sons Craig and his wife Victoria (Bell) Jones of Hollis, N.H., and Steven Jones and his partner Robert Milano of Vassalboro. Carleton is also survived by five grandchildren and their spouses, eight great-grandchildren, and many close friends. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brothers Howard and Leith Jones and his son Jeffrey Jones.

Honoring Carleton’s wish, a small family gathering is planned in May at the stone pyramid he built on the family farm. 

A very special thank you to the staff at Maine General Hospice for the outstanding care they provided Carleton.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.directcremationofmaine.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be mailed to Maetta Jones,

53 Quaker Lane,

Vassalboro, ME 04989.

A fund in his memory has been created and will be used toward a donation of planted trees and other materials at a public park in Vassalboro.

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