By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The memorial service for Trey Jones was held Saturday morning in Hutchinson as community members packed Hutchinson First Church of the Nazarene.
His brother-in-law, Craig Honas, talked about how everyone who knew Trey, loved Trey and they want to help his family the way he helped everyone else.
“This is evident, when you look around at the amount of people in this building today,” Honas said. “It’s evident in the way the community rallied around his family and started fundraiser after fundraiser, and there’s still fundraisers after today. It’s been absolutely incredible.”
His friend and a coach with him in his days in Winfield, Brad Fox, talked about Trey’s coaching and how he reached his students and his players.
“When Trey’s hand was on a players shoulder, he wasn’t just coaching them in baseball, football, basketball or track, he was mentoring them,” Fox said. “Trey really invested in them as an individual, not just kids on a team he was trying to get a win out of. Trey looked young people in the eye and he engaged them in conversations. He acknowledged their value and he made them feel heard.”
His high school principal, Rick Blosser, coached throwers with Trey the last couple of years in track and was thankful for that opportunity, as well as the opportunity to be around him as a person.
“Trey’s charisma, integrity and passion is what drew us all to want to be around him,” Blosser said. “He was cool. He was just a cool guy to hang out with. He would come down in the mornings and stand with us by my office to greet students as they came into school, telling stories and talking to kids.”
Rev. Kent Pedersen, pastor at Hutchinson First Church of the Nazarene, spoke about Jones and his family and had some words for those left behind.
“Trey was doing what he loved when he died,” Pedersen said. “Traveling with his family and watching one of his kids compete. Two days prior, he watched Ava sign with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Ava, your fighting spirit and determination is an inspiration to all of us. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when we think of your mother.
“His greatest accomplishments were, number one, his kids,” Pedersen said. “Number two was helping others, although he didn’t want any credit for it. Hunter, your dad talked to one of his friends of how you were 20 years ahead of where he was in maturity at your age. Like has already been stated, I noticed in the hospital, you were calm, cool and collected for your family as they faced their greatest adversity. Creek, I know firsthand…I’m sorry you’re having to grow up sooner than you want, but Creek, I know firsthand from Mrs. Pedersen what a special young man you are and how proud your mom and dad are of you. Your dad’s physical presence may be gone, but the love he had for you is something that will live on.”
Memorial contributions can still be made to the Jones Family Fund at People’s Bank and Trust to help defray the family’s ongoing expenses as they continue to physically recover.