Jon R. Kelso, 27, grew up in Prineville, Oregon. He was active in sports and music at Crook County High School, where he was on the boys golf team, managed the 1984 state championship football team, taught swimming, was a lifeguard, and sang in choirs and musicals. He had a degree in wildlife sciences from Oregon State University and had just completed his first year of a degree in civil engineering with straight A's. Jon began fighting fires in 1985 as a hotshot, and was a smokejumper and a squad boss for the Prineville Hotshot sawyers.

Jon enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, music, golf, skiing and woodworking. He was a perfectionist and a craftsman who appreciated quality in both possessions and relationships. He loved children, his family, and the comradeship of friends. He will be remembered for his honesty, openness and sensitivity to other people's feelings and needs. Jon lived his life philosophy of "Don't hurry, don't worry. Take time to smell the flowers!"