Richard Lewis Jones

Richard Lewis Jones, 80, known by many of his friends as “Deacon Jones”, passed away Sunday December 6, 2015 in Abilene. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at St. Paul United Methodist Church with Rev. Bill Libby officiating, assisted by Rev. Felicia Hopkins. Entombment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Tuesday at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Richard was born July 11, 1935 in Dublin, Texas to Guy Thomas and Elizabeth (Moore) Jones. He graduated from Dublin High School and the University of Texas. He served his country in the United States Army before going to the Dallas Institute-Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science, and earned his funeral directors and embalmers license. Richard married JoAnn Bailey on August 30, 1958 in Dublin, Texas. He worked as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative for 22 years for Schering Plough and GD Serle Pharmaceuticals. After his career as a Pharmaceutical Representative, Richard had a long career as a Funeral Director and was affiliated with a number of funeral homes in West Texas throughout his career, including Harrell Funeral Home in Dublin, Elliott’s and later Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home in Abilene, Cate-Spencer Funeral Home in Sweetwater and Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home in Odessa. However in later years he established Avalon Mortuary Service in Abilene of which he owned and operated for many years prior to his retirement. He was recognized by the Texas Funeral Directors Association for holding his Morticians License for over 50 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Carlton Jones and his sister, Mary Elizabeth Corbin. Richard is survived by his wife, JoAnn Jones of Abilene; his daughter, Becky Hill also of Abilene; his son, Chris Jones and wife Jayme of Katy, TX; grandchildren, Kelly Brian Jones of San Angelo; Abigail “Abbey” Hill of Lubbock, Jordyn and Jayda Jones of Katy; as well several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Bill Armer, Ron Blackmore, Charles Corbin, Robert Hamil, Kent Anderson, Alan Wainscott and Larry Pittman. Honorary pallbearers will be Monty Howard, Bob Surovik, Ben Fisher, Art Hall, Holman King and Bill Megginson. The family would like to thank Integra Care Hospice and the staff at Windcrest Alzheimer’s Care Center for the care given to Richard. Memorials may be made in Richard’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association North Central Texas Chapter, 301 South Pioneer Drive, Suite 105, Abilene, Texas 79603.