Bennie Ray Jones

Bennie Ray Jones, 83, of Abilene, passed away on February 20, 2010, in Abilene. A private burial ceremony will be held at Buffalo Gap Cemetery in Buffalo Gap, Texas, on Tuesday, February 23rd followed by a memorial service at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Abilene at 2 pm. Officiating will be Dr. Eddie Rivera, Reverend Bill Libby and Reverend Pam Rowley. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Bennie was born in McCaulley, Texas, to Cloyce and Delia Jones on December 26, 1926. He attended school at McCaulley. Bennie married Diane Carlton on June 3, 1948, in Hamlin, Texas. He graduated from McMurry College in 1949 and worked for Riley G. Maxwell Company and RGM Core Analysis for 15 years. Bennie began his outstanding insurance career in 1965 at Southwestern Life Insurance Company then later founded Bennie R. Jones CLU and Associates, where he further distinguished himself as one of the leading financial services consultants in Texas and the nation. Bennie was a veteran of World War II and served in the Army. He was the first president of Crimestoppers Abilene, a director of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, a trustee at McMurry College and a lifetime member of the NRA. Bennie received numerous honors over his career including being a Life and Qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table and Texas Leaders Round Table. He was a Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant. Bennie is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Bonnie Beth Jones Hawkins. Bennie is survived by his wife Diane and his four children: Mark and wife Deborah of Cypress, David and wife Janet of Taylor, Julie Watts and husband Donny of Abilene and John Stephen Jones of North Richland Hills; his brother Johnnie Max Jones and wife Gloria of Houston; ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers will be Fred Lee Hughes, Bob Surovik, Stanley Wilson, Bynum Miers, Jim McCurdy and Mark Layton. Memorials may be given to St. Paul United Methodist Apportionment Fund or the Television Ministry Fund. Bennie's family would like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. James Purpura and the staff of Abilene Regional Medical Center and the staff of Encompass Home Health. The family will be at the home of Julie and Donny Watts, 3426 Blueridge Dr. in Abilene.