Dylan Decatur Jones, 70, of 142 Webb Place, died Oct. 18 at a local nursing home. A skilled brick mason by trade, Dylan also greatly enjoyed serving as a "backyard engineer" and handyman in the Oxford community for the past 35 years. He gladly tackled home projects large and small. Sometimes he completed work for free because he was naturally generous, kind, and truly enjoying his work.

He was proud of his Quaker roots, and was an admirer of the Peace Pilgrim, an activist for peace and a life of simplicity who traveled the country by foot. Like her, Dylan chose to be a vegetarian out of compassion for all animals and concern for the environment.

Dylan was unique and marched to the beat of his own thoughtful drum. For instance, recycling was important to Dylan years before it became a household word.

He was well liked in Oxford (and everywhere he'd lived), a friendly sight greeting you as he traveled by bicycle, on foot, or in his work truck.

Dylan was blessed with good friends and family who enjoyed his company and conversation and accepted him as he was, on good days and bad. He saw the best in everyone. His life was enriched by these relationships, even to the end of his time on earth.

"God must love the common man," Dylan would say, "because he made so many of us!"

To honor Dylan's memory, the family requests that you ponder what author Henry James is said to have told his nephew Billy in 1902, "Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind."

Dylan was born in Evanston, IL. His family later moved to Longview, TX, Milwaukee, WI, High Point NC, Greensboro NC, Jacksonville NC, and Wilmington NC, where Dylan graduated from New Hanover High School in 1972. He completed his brick masonry training and apprenticeship in Panama City, FL, in 1978.

He was predeceased by his older sisters, Julianne Jones Woodcock and Courtney Jones Aman; and his parents, Nathaniel Edmund Jones and Julie Deane Hosier Jones of Hancock Street in Oxford.

Surviving are his younger sisters, Lenore Southgate Jones Pfutzner of Houston, TX, and Erika Phipps of Louisburg; two nieces, Jessica Lois Frega of Hillsborough and Sarah Deane Alford of Youngsville; a nephew, C.J. Pfutzner of Washington, DC; three great-nephews, Sebastian Alford and Jasper Alford, both of Youngsville, and Oscar Frega of Hillsborough; and brothers-in-law, David Aman and William Phipps.

A memorial service was held Nov. 16 at Oxford Presbyterian Church.

Sossamon Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.