Jimmy Jones

Jimmy W. Jones, 73, died peacefully in his sleep at home in Evadale, Texas on March 30, 2020. He was born in Silsbee, Texas to Jessie Leroy Jones and Helen Day Jones on December 21, 1946. He grew up in Evadale, attending Buna Elementary and graduating from Evadale High School, and had lived in Evadale all of his life. He was a member of Central Baptist Church and the Evadale Masonic Lodge No. 1366 as a 32nd degree Mason.

In his early working career, he had been a pumper on Texaco Island and then moved to the refinery as a welder. He later became a welding instructor at Evadale High School where he taught welding and much more for 23 years. His great joy was to see young men excel and become productive in their chosen vocation and careers.

Mr. Jones was well known at the Jasper County Junior Livestock Show as a community buyer for EHS where he enjoyed helping the FFA students sell their show animals. At the cancellation of this year’s show and sale, he procured buyers for the students. He enjoyed helping grandsons with raising rabbits, pigs, and steers for many years.

He served as the Justice of the Peace of Precinct 6 of Jasper County for 16 years, a job he dearly loved as he strived to be fair and honest serving the law and helping people.

He served on the Jasper Newton Electric Cooperative Board of Directors for 12 years and the Tex-LA Board of Directors as JNEC Director/Representative for 4 years. He enjoyed the friendship of the men who served on the boards and committees with him.

He is preceded in death by his parents, son, Dennis Reeves, brothers, Bobby Jones and Roby Jones, sister in law Wanda Jones, and niece Holly Jones. He is survived by his wife Joyce Gattis Jones; daughter and son-in-law, Leslie and Trey Ainsworth of Lufkin, Texas; son and daughter-in-law, Trent and Stephanie Jones of Silsbee; daughter-in-law, Tammy Reeves of Evadale, daughter and son-in-law, Kristina and Ray Ozment with 3 daughters; son Jimmy Jones and his children of Kountze. He will be missed by grandchildren Austin and Dylan Reeves of Evadale, Laurel Ainsworth of Lufkin, Preston and Peyton Jones of Silsbee. He leaves behind brothers and sister-in-law Jerry Jones, David Jones and wife Cheryl of Evadale; sister and brother-in-law Linda McMillan and husband C.J. of Kirbyville; sisters-in-law Gayle Jones and Pat Jones; and 3 nieces and 6 nephews.

Mr. Jones also leaves behind many dear friends, especially Jeff and Linda Smith of Pearland and Tony Harris of Evadale. Thank you to Hugh Terry, Vance Moss and Mack Rose for their help with transportation and a very special appreciation to Tammy Murphy for sorting his medication this past year. A thank you to baby brother David for coming and doing whatever was asked of him.

Jimmy enjoyed the deer hunting and camping at the Rack and Rifle Hunting Lease. He was privileged with many hunting trips to Rock Springs with friends. He also loved to garden growing a variety of vegetables, but his favorites were peas, tomatoes, and watermelons. He was known for his love of hot peppers. He loved to give away his produce and shared with many friends and neighbors.

His greatest love was spending time with his grandchildren whether riding them on his Kubota to the highway to make the big trucks blow their horn, or sitting in a deer stand with them, or having them help in the garden planting potatoes or digging them up. He really enjoyed raising watermelons and letting them choose their melon to harvest. Their first words were “PaPa” and the first question was “What’s PaPa doing?”

Jimmy had fought a courageous 2-year battle with cancer just completing a second round of treatments at MDA. Even there, he will be remembered for his sense of humor, his storytelling, and his appreciation of those trying to help him. He fought a good fight, he kept the faith, and is now enjoying the beauty and joys of his Heavenly home with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ surrounded by those who have gone before him. He is forever loved and will be forever missed.

Private Graveside services  under the direction of Farmer Funeral Home.

Serving as pall bearers will be:

Austin Reeves

Dylan Reeves 

Jeff Smith 

Tony Harris

Vance Moss

Tracy Havens

Doug Gravis

Steve Conner

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