James Lawton Jones, Jr.

Ava, MO

James Lawton Jones, 80 years, 5 months, and 13 days old, passed to heaven on July 17, 2016 at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare.

James was born February 4, 1936 in Celeste, TX to James Lawton and Clara Adeline (Trent) Jones. He graduated from Celeste High School in 1954.

James was a veteran. Honorably discharged from the Texas Army National Guard after 16 years of service.

James retired from the Texarkana, TX Fire Department after 35 years of service. He had attained the rank of Captain. James spent his free time as an umpire/referee for 38 years. He called basketball, football and baseball, including umpiring for the Texas and Arkansas State Baseball Championships.

On May 18, 1974 James and Ann Gregory were united in marriage in Texarkana, TX.

He was a Christian and of the Baptist faith and a member of the Nash Baptist Church in Nash, TX.

James was preceded by his parents.

James is survived by his wife, Ann Jones, Ava, MO, 4 sons, Richard and Midori Cook, Tokyo, Japan, Randy Duncan, Ft. Worth, TX, Ron & Linda Duncan, Ava, MO, and Robbie and Linda Duncan, Hooks, TX, one sister, Trenta Rae Jones, Ava, MO, one brother in law, James and Laura Morrow, Tulsa, OK, 8 grandchildren,13 great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.


Cremation services for James are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, MO. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. at the Chapel Woods Funeral Home in Nash, TX with burial to follow in the Chapel Woods Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 2222, Little Rock, AR 72203-9984.