Jimmy “Jim” Frederick Jones passed away Jan. 16, 2020 at the age 86. He was born Nov. 22, 1933 in Clarita, Okla. to William and Ruth (Daniel) Jones.
Jim was a retired Methodist minister where he served throughout the south for more than 30 years. Jim loved basketball and shared that passion through coaching at the high school level.
Throughout his life, Jim kept busy with multiple activities. He began his career with enlistment in the U.S. Navy. Jim served our country as an MP. Jim also loved the time he spent on the aircraft carriers directing planes in for landings.
After his time in the Navy, Jim enjoyed the combining of his love of people and driving, as he drove a Greyhound bus route from southeastern Oklahoma to Oklahoma City and back. Jim also added insurance sales to his full schedule.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents, William Jones and Ruth (Daniel) Jones, son Michael Jones and niece Charlotte Colby.
Jim is survived by his wife, Jo Ellen (Isbell) Jones of the home; sisters, Margaret Beth Colby and husband Charles of Tishomingo, Okla. and Kay Newmaster and husband Walter of Ada, Okla.; children: Tonya Jones, Debra Jenkins of Durant, Okla., Barbara Henderson and husband Terry of Lander, Wyo., James Bates of the home and Eve Spaulding and husband Dave of Norman, Okla.; grandchildren: Christopher Carpenter and wife Kelly of Winter Haven, Fla., Dustan Carpenter and fiancé Brandi Tobias of Lakeland, Fla., Summer Henderson and Anthony Mercil of Casper, Wyo., and Bella, Sophia, Melania and Deklan Spaulding of Norman, Okla.; great-grandchildren: Brittany, Alexis, Natalie and Maci Carpenter and Taylor Bowers of Florida and Dalton Carpenter and Lilia and Cora Wilson of Florida; nephew, Garry Colby of Tishomingo, Okla, and nieces: Lisa Williams and husband David of Okla., Tiffany Layton and husband Matt of Ada, Okla. and Rachel Newmaster Alfred.
There will be a memorial service for Jim on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020 at 1 p.m. at Fairview Baptist Church (1200 W. University Blvd, Durant, Oklahoma). Private service will be held for interment.
Services are under the direction of Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Okla.
