TRIBUTES have been paid to an Aislaby grandfather who died suddenly in his sleep on Sunday at the age of just 42.
Craig Jones of The Huntsman pub was described by his wife Susan (39) as a lovely man.
"He was a gentleman, a wonderful husband and he was so proud of his boys. But he wasn't just my husband – he was my soul-mate," she said.
The couple, who grew
up in Grangetown, met at Mr Jones' 21st birthday party and married in 1989 in Normanby.
Mr Jones shared a passion for motor racing with his youngest son Ashley who is a successful motor racer.
"He spent most weekends driving Ashley up and down the country in a big wagon," she said.
"It was his passion, he was a motorbike fanatic.
"He was so proud of Ashley when he got his first first place in the Auto 66 event at Elvington on Father's Day in June this year."
Mrs Jones has been landlady of the Huntsman pub for the past four years where the family also live.
Mr Jones leaves three sons – Martin (20), Adam (18) and Ashley (16).
He became a proud grandfather to seven-month-old Caitlin earlier this year.
"He was a very loving dad and grandad," said Mrs Jones.
"He dropped everything and raced off to hospital the day Caitlin's mum Stacey went into labour."
Son Adam has had to fly home from Missouri where he had been working as a chef for just three weeks.
Mr Jones was born on the day of the first game in the World Cup finals on 11 July 1966 and was a keen Middlesbrough FC supporter.
He had worked at Corus in Redcar for the past 25 years and the department he worked in will close for the afternoon on the day of his funeral.
Mr Jones died in his sleep and it is believed his aorta had ruptured and had been leaking blood for some time but had gone undetected.
His funeral takes place on Monday and the funeral party will leave the Huntsman pub at 2.30pm and go to the crematorium in St Bede's, Middlesbrough, at 3.30pm.
All are welcome to join the family at the Bluebell pub in Middlesbrough afterwards.
Mrs Jones requests family flowers only although donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Zoe's Place Baby Hospice in Middlesbrough.
The Huntsman pub is closed until further notice.
The full article contains 419 words and appears in Whitby Gazette Friday newspaper.
