James Ray Jones, 88 of Durant, Okla., passed away on December 27, 2022, in Denton, Texas. James, known as J.R., was born on October 13, 1934, in Utica, Okla., to James Thomas and Maddie Irene (Loftis) Jones.
J.R. graduated from Blue High School and Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He married Betty Laverne Renshaw on July 24, 1954, in Blue and they were blessed with two children, Gary and Jill. He proudly served the State of Oklahoma in the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma National Guard for twenty years. After retiring from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, J.R. served as Chief of Security for Southeastern for 14 years.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Durant, McAlester Shriners, Jaycees, Durant Elks Lodge, and the Department of Public Safety Retired Troopers Association. J.R. deeply loved his family and friends and enjoyed playing golf and watching football and basketball.
J.R.’s greatest joy was watching Sunday and Monday night football with his son Gary each week and watching his grandchildren accomplish their dreams. His daughter Jill was the light of his life and looked forward to her visit each week.
J.R. is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Jones; brothers-in-law. Walter Lambert and James Renshaw; brother and sister-in-law, Fred and Holly Webb and nephew, Rick Jones.
Left behind to carry on J.R.’s legacy are his wife of 68 years, Betty Jones of the home; son, Gary Jones of Durant, Okla.; daughter, Jill Sutherland and husband Tom of Celina, Texas; granddaughter, Lauren Sutherland of Celina, Texas; grandson, Carson Sutherland of Celina, Texas; sister, Lodema Lambert of Durant, Okla.; brothers, Ron Jones and wife Janis of Durant, Okla., and Mike Jones and wife Wanda of Gallatin, Tenn., and numerous nieces, nephews and many friends.
Services to celebrate J.R.’s amazing life will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at Brown’s Funeral Service Chapel. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Chaplain Sam Garner will officiate. Honorary pallbearers will be JR’s coffee brothers and all First Responders.
Arrangements are under the direction of Brown’s Durant Funeral and Cremation Service.