Albert C. Jones, 79

LACONIA — Albert Covey Jones, 79, of Laconia died May 13, 2024.

Al was born Sept. 3, 1944, to Laurence H. and Dorothy S. (Covey) Jones in Hanover. He was proud of his native New Hampshire, graduating from Lebanon High School and Dartmouth College. He served two terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and owned insurance businesses for 50 years in Newport, Claremont, Hanover, Lebanon and Concord.

He loved boating and teaching people to water ski on Crystal Lake in Enfield, Lake Kolelemook in Springfield, and Lake Winnipesauke in Laconia. He dreamed of owning an elephant since he was 3 years old. He got his wish in 1987 and bought his first elephant when Benson’s Wild Animal Farm in Hudson closed. He eventually rescued four other elephants and purchased a lion. He traveled throughout the United States for business and led family trips to Nova Scotia, France and many ski mountains. Finally, in 2015, was the trip of a lifetime: a safari in Africa to see elephants and lions in the wild. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Franklin, and sister Kathryn.

He is survived by his wife, Larissa Lezama; her sons, Alexander, Daniel and Cole Irving; his sons, Richard, John, Michael and Christopher Jones, and their mother, Linda; stepsons Christopher and Alexander Scott, and their mother, Connie; as well as stepsons Charles, Michael and Andrew Shaw; and many others whose lives he touched.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in Albert’s memory to Lezama Family Happy Tails Dog Park HTDPNH.org.

Calling hours will be 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, at Ricker Funeral Home, 56 School St., Lebanon. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, May 31, at the First Congregational Church, 10 S. Park St., Lebanon. 

To leave a message of remembrance or condolence, visit the online guestbook at rickerfuneralhome.com.