Luther Ray Jones Sr

Luther Ray Jones Sr. passed away at the age of 85 on September 22, 2018 after a brave battle with Melanoma cancer. He was born on July 15, 1933 to Ruben Jones and Olivia Riley Jones. Luther was preceded in death by his parents, brothers William Freeman and Franklin Andrew Jones, sister Carrie Jones Redding and infant granddaughter Olivia Victoria Jones. He is survived by his wife of 31 years Helen Reavis Jones, sisters Ella Faye Jones and Reba Nell (Kimberly) Jones Parks. He is also survived by his children Patricia Jones Brown (Steve), Luther Jones Jr., Larry Jones (Tabitha), Judy Jones Riley (Bill) and Donald Jones (Wilma), step-children Donny Yates (Janelle), Kerri Yates Avritt (Billy Don), and twenty grandchildren and twenty two great-grandchildren. He served in the National Guard Armory from 1951 to 1974. He retired as a Warrant Officer. Luther started his career in Marshall, Texas in 1949 in auto parts management and worked many years in the industry. In 1966 he began working for Entex Gas Company (United Gas Company) as a salesman in Longview, Lufkin and Tyler, Texas until 1975. In 1975 he became a partner in the Polan-Jones Air Conditioning business in Lufkin, Texas. 1980 found him back with Entex Gas Company, where he worked as a manager in Carthage, Kilgore, and Huntsville, Texas. He retired in 1998 after 28 years with the company. Luther was a member of several organizations, The Home Builders Association, The Optimist Club, and The Rotary International. He also enjoyed playing golf at Elkins Lake in his retirement. Luther, Daddy, Papaw, Great Papaw was a great man and loved his family dearly. He was so loved by all. He often said “a million dollars couldn’t buy what he had.” He was truly blessed. Pallbearers are his grandsons Dillon Jones, Dakota Jones, Dustin Jones, Jeremy Jones, Joshua Jones, Ben Riley, Taylor Jones, Jason Yates and Brandon Yates. Honorary pallbearers are Steve Brown, Bill Riley, Billy Don Avritt, Michael Sparks, Bryan Reed, Trey Wheeler and Jared Hathorn. The family will receive friends at 12pm (noon), with funeral service to begin at 1pm on Thursday, September 27th in the chapel of Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home in Huntsville, Texas. Graveside services will be held at 11am on Friday, September 28th at Eagle Creek Cemetery in Marshall, Texas. Any donations in his memory can be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation, P.O. Box 759329 Baltimore, MD 21275-9329. Full obituary may be viewed and memorial condolences made to the family at www.shmfh.com.

Luther Ray Jones Sr

July 15, 1933 - September 22, 2018