JONES, MITCH
It is with broken hearts and deep sorrow that we share the sad news of the sudden passing of our beloved Mitch Jones, on May 16, 2023, at age 63. Mitch was a loving father and husband who was completely devoted with unconditional love to this family.
Mitch was born in Sydney, Australia in 1960 and called Palm Beach, north Sydney his home. Living on the ocean, Mitch was a swimmer, surfer and absolutely loved sailing. Mitch’s mother was a figure skating coach and his father loved hockey so at a very young age, Mitch learned how to skate.
Being a powerful skater in a man’s body at only age 14, he drew the attention of a Canadian hockey scout who encouraged the family to get Mitch to Canada to play hockey.After 2 years of paperwork to get into Canada, the family arrived in Calgary in 1976, and although he was unknown in the Canadian hockey circles upon arrival, he quickly found himself playing for the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League. Mitch was a stay-at-home shutdown defenseman. Many that played against Mitch said that no one took them harder into the boards than Mitch did. Mitch was voted the “Best Defenseman” by his team.
It was also while in Regina, that Mitch became interested in purebred cattle and agriculture when the Regina Pat’s ice arena transformed into Saskatchewan’s Canadian Western Agribition for 10 days in November. And coincidentally, Regina would also be the place that he started dating his future wife Leah, several years later.
When Mitch wrapped up his hockey career, he and his brother Scott formed Braidwood Stock Farm successfully raising, showing and selling Salers cattle across the globe. Some said it was sinful what Mitch could do with a pair of clippers as he could clip toplines on cattle unlike anyone else. And it was through Salers cattle and the show ring that he first met Leah. In fact, Leah and her father flew down to their first Salers sale in High River and purchased several females including a famous cow called Kokomo. Mitch often teased Leah that he married her just to get Kokomo back!
Mitch and Leah were married in Westlock on May 27, 1995, combining their cow herds of purebred Salers and purebred Simmentals along with some Black Angus cattle. In 1997 their daughter Haylea was born, followed by Kayla in 1998 and Jett in 2002. Mitch was so, so proud of his three children and followed them to all of their events including cattle shows, figure skating, singing and Jett’s hockey, most recently as captain of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the Western Hockey League. And all of them have been committed to the Calgary Stampede including Mitch as a dedicated Barn Boss for the past ten years. Haylea, Kayla and Jett will continue his legacy at the Stampede.
Mitch had the great pleasure of walking his oldest daughter down the aisle last August in Linaria as Haylea was married. And Kayla lives at the farm helping Mitch with the cattle and chores as she also attends University in pre-vet studies.
Mitch will be remembered by his loving wife Leah, his three children Haylea Thorogood (Evan), Kayla Jones and Jett Jones, along with his mother Patsy Ann Jones, and brothers Scott Jones, Luke Jones and Yancy Jones as well as many extended family and friends. Mitch was predeceased by his grandparents and father Jimmy Jones.
Mitch made a lasting impact on all of those lucky enough to have known him. We often teased him that he neither had an Australian accent or a Canadian accent, rather something created in between. And so starts his next journey. His absence will be felt deeply, and his love of family and passion for cattle will forever be remembered. You will be missed big guy. May your soul rest in eternal peace.
Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family by visiting:
www.connelly-mckinley.com/obituaries
The family will be holding a private service.
And a special thank you Carol Stewart at the Westlock Hospital and to the ICU department at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Your care, compassion and professionalism is greatly appreciated. Donations can be made to the Royal Alexandra Hospital ICU Unit.
http://bitly.ws/ESEA or Royal Alexandra Foundation
10240 Kingsway Ave., Edmonton, Alberta T6H 3V9
