| Graduation Year | Class of 1969 |
| Date of Passing | Jan 05, 2014 |
| About | Environmental attorney Steve Jones, 63, dedicated life to conservation Recent Lander resident Steve Jones died suddenly January 5th at his home in Jackson, Wyoming. His friends and family provided the following. Born Dec. 22nd, 1950, and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, the son of Cyrus and Francina Jones, Steve moved west shortly after graduating in 1974 from the University of Nebraska. Steve received his law degree in 1977 from the University of Oregon School of Law. Steve’s first legal jobs were for Southeast Nebraska Legal Services and then Wind River Legal Services. In 1980 Steve moved to Cheyenne and began what became a lifelong career working to defend Wyoming’s environment. Apart from a brief interlude in private practice in Anchorage, Alaska, Steve spent ten years working for the people of Wyoming as Senior Assistant Attorney General zealously prosecuting polluters. When a new governor sought to rein in the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality’s enforcement activities, Steve —unwilling to compromise his values—decided he had had enough and went to work for the Wyoming Outdoor Council. As Watershed Protection Attorney, Steve worked at WOC for eleven years to preserve and to restore Wyoming’s wild rivers and streams. Most recently, Steve had opened Jones and Maxon Law Office in Jackson, with an associated office in Lander. Steve was a passionate and dedicated environmentalist who rode his bicycle or walked to work in all seasons regardless of the weather. Whether he was recycling, composting, buying pre-owned clothing, shopping at the local farmers’ market, or using public transportation, he conducted his life in a way to minimize his impact on the earth. Steve was a loyal and dedicated friend to many. He would go out of his way and drive great distances just to spend time with friends or to help those that expressed need. He had the ability to laugh at himself and take his personal circumstances lightly, but give others his full attention. He was renowned for his frugalness, but was generous to causes he believed in; and when called on, he came through. Steve was a passionate outdoor enthusiast who loved nothing more than going on two-week backpack trips into the Wind River Mountains or long hikes in canyon country. He had a wonderfully positive outlook on life, a great sense of humor with an infectious laugh, and was treasured for his kindness and caring. Steve is survived by two sisters, Betty Jones of Sunnyvale, California, and Janis Wuertz of Statesville, North Carolina, a nephew, David Wuertz of Asheville, North Carolina, twin nieces, Karen Bhaskar of Loves Park, Illinois and Kim Rabago of Woodbridge, Virginia and an extensive network of friends and colleagues in Wyoming and across the Rocky Mountain West who loved Steve and respected his professional accomplishments. His work made the world a better place. |
