From the Bangor Daily News, January 19, 2008

UNION - Austin Millard Jones, 80, died peacefully Jan. 15, 2009, at home, of pancreatic cancer. He was born Oct. 12, 1928, in Natick, Mass. The family moved to Hallowell, where Austin graduated from Cony High School and went on to Bates College on a full scholarship, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in history-government in 1950. It was there he met Norma Reese and they married in 1951.

After Austin fulfilled his military requirements in the Army, he joined the Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, Washington, D.C., and completed rigorous training in the Clandestine Service. He spent most of his 30-year CIA career as a technical operations officer, and had expertise in paramilitary operations, demolition, explosives, weaponry and operational technical support and management. He traveled and served in many parts of the world, including Southeast Asia, Europe, Latin America and Africa.

When Austin retired in 1981, he and Norma moved to their property on Seven Tree Pond, Union, where they tamed 25 acres of overgrowth, had a house built, created and maintained vegetable, flower and rose gardens, planted birch, evergreen and fruit trees, and established a grove of American chestnut trees. Active in the local community, Austin was well known for his volunteer activities that benefited the town of Union, including regular attendance at the bi-weekly town selectmen's meetings. He was often seen tending the plantings on the Common.

Austin was a member of the town Conservation Commission, the 911 Street Naming Committee and on the Water Advisory Committee for Aqua Maine. He was a ballot clerk for many years and a lifetime member of Union Historical Society. He volunteered as a local loon count coordinator for the Maine Audubon Society in the '80s and '90s. Austin was an avid and active member of the American Chestnut Foundation of Maine and spent many hours planting, harvesting and propagating American chestnut trees with other members of the foundation in their effort to bring the blighted tree back to its former glory. He was a dedicated 15-year volunteer with the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, maintaining trails, building bridges and shelters with a group of L.L. Bean employees, including his daughter, Pam.

A practicing conservationist, Austin supported the Georges River Land Trust and put a conservation easement on his land because he strongly believed in the preservation and stewardship of the natural environment. Austin enjoyed gardening, boating, bird watching, hiking and camping. He and Norma were active in square dancing clubs in the area.

Austin is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Norma; three daughters, Pam Jones of Brunswick, Linda Garces and husband, Stephen Garces, of Merrimack, NH and Laura Schuh of Chantilly, Va.; and five grandchildren, Andrew and Robin Schuh, Alexander, Kristian and Mariana Garces, all of whom he was very proud. He leaves two sisters, Claire Weed and her husband, Chester, of Farmingdale; and Enid Thomas and her husband, John, of Norwich, Conn.; several nieces and nephews.

Graveside memorial services for Austin will be held at a later date at Lakeview Cemetery, Union. Donations in his memory may be made to the Maine Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, care of Glen Rea, 231 Buck St., Bangor, ME 04401, Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care and Hospice, Inc., 170 Pleasant St., Rockland, ME 04841 or Vose Library New Building Fund, P.O. Box 734, Union, ME 04862. Cremation provided by Crabiel-Riposta Funeral Home, Belfast.