He had a house in Beavertown, which is near to my neck of the woods. There was a front page obituary for him in the local newspaper, with warm recollections shared by people who knew him, or had met him during the Monkees reunion tours at the Bloomsburg Fair in 1986 and 1990. Here are a few excerpts:
He has also resided for many years in Snyder County after purchasing a farmhouse in Beavertown near Selinsgrove and continued to perform locally at venues like The Front Street Station in Northumberland, said former Fair President Fred Trump.
"I remember him as being fun. He liked to laugh. And he loved the fair. He cared a lot about it," Trump said.
"He was really good with the fans, particularly the handicapped children. There would be a line of wheelchairs and parents out there, and he would say, 'Definitely, bring them in'. And they would all get pictures or an autograph," said longtime backstage manager Bill Barratt.
"He took care of people. He took time and met with a lot of people he didn't have to. He did a lot of requests," Barratt said of The Monkees' time at the Bloomsburg Fair.
Barratt said he had recently discussed trying to invite Jones back to the fairgrounds for a post-flood* fundraiser, but he never got a chance to call him.
"Being he was in the local area, I'm sure he would have done it. I think he was that type of person. But it didn't happen," Barratt said.
Trump was saddened and shocked when he heard of the popular performer's death. "Last time I spoke with him, he was in great shape. This was very sudden. He'll be remembered as a gentleman and a fine entertainer," Trump said.
*Bloomsburg was hit last year with the worst flood in town history, causing the first cancellation ever in the history of the Fair.
