James Alexander Jones

Funeral services for James Alexander Jones, 84, of Lufkin will be held Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 10 a.m. at Denman Avenue Baptist Church with Brother Charles M. Roberts officiating. Interment will follow in the Old Union Cemetery. Mr. Jones was born at home on February 7,1932, to Ernest and Esther (Beauchamp) Jones in Huntington, Texas. The youngest of four mischievous boys, he kept his mother's prayer life very active through his East Texas childhood. After graduating from Lufkin High School, he hitchhiked to Fort Deposit, Alabama, to kick off a new high school band program at Lowndes County High School. This was the launch pad of his lifelong love for teaching and sharing music. As the new bachelor in the small town of Fort Deposit, he boarded with Mrs. Claude Harrison and ate most of his meals at Miss Judy's Cafe. Here he met Miss Judy's daughter, the lovely Doris Lane Hartley, and shortly became Miss Judy's son-in-law. He and Doris were married on April 18, 1952. James was drafted to the U. S. Army from 1953 to 1955, and helped build the first guided missile at Fort Mott, New Jersey. Upon discharge, he moved his family to Pasadena, Texas, where he worked 8 years as an electrician for Rohm & Haas refinery while attending night school to begin his college education. Taking college classes while supporting a wife and three children was not easy, but James's determination and tireless work ethic carried him through. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1966 and his master's degree in 1973, both in music education from Stephen F. Austin State University. While pursuing these degrees, he began teaching school and served as band director for three East Texas high schools - in Cushing, Hemphill, and Silsbee - between 1963 and 1969. Everywhere his family lived, he also led church music, from Alabama to New Jersey to many Baptist churches around East Texas. In 1969, he went into business as the manager of Piney Woods Tractor & Implement Company in Lufkin, serving countless loggers, farmers and contractors in the East Texas area over the next 30 plus years. His reputation as an upright Christian businessman was known throughout the community, even after he retired as owner and CEO of the company in 2001. In the meantime, he stepped into one of his very favorite roles - becoming "Gramps" when his first grandchild was born in 1980. Retirement took a number of forms for James, but it was never about slowing down. He stayed busier than ever pursuing his hobbies and keeping up with his beloved grandkids. The grandsons often joined him in working his black Angus cows, baling hay, and building fence on his farm. He taught them the value of a hard day's work and a cold Coke or watermelon during break time in the shade. All the grandchildren made many wonderful memories playing golf, taking deer hunting trips to West Texas, boating and water skiing at Sam Rayburn Lake, snow skiing in the Rocky Mountains, and traveling the country by motor home with Gramps and Granny. He never missed a birthday celebration, music recital, or school event when one the grandkids was involved; and he gathered them to the home place for countless Easter dinners (with egg hunts), Christmas or New Year's celebrations (with fireworks), and other special holidays. The Fourth of July was always an anticipated event, as 60 plus members of the extended Jones family would gather at his home for fried catfish and watermelon. He was a faithful member of Denman Avenue Baptist Church in Lufkin and served as an ordained deacon, trustee, and committee member in various Baptist churches since 1961. He especially enjoyed singing in the sanctuary choir and directing the music when needed. His service as President of the Old Union Cemetery Association provided valuable leadership and expansion to an organization of which he was very proud. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Doris Hartley Jones; two daughters and their husbands, Lynn and Randy Holloway and Sherry and Robin Schlaudt; ten grandchildren: Joni Beth Holloway, James Andrew Holloway and wife Rebekah, Jennifer Lane Schlaudt, John William Schlaudt, Jason Monroe Welch, Jeffrey Alexander Schlaudt and wife Elizabeth, Joshua Daniel Schlaudt, Joel Michael Schlaudt, Joanna Frances Schlaudt, and Jessica Joy Schlaudt; four great granddaughters; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Rudolph Jones of Omaha, Texas, Harold Jones of Huntington, Texas, and Gerald Jones of Cushing, Texas; and a daughter, Laura Jo Welch of Lufkin. While his presence will be sorely missed, his legacy of godly values will endure for years to come. Pallbearers will be Mr. Jones' grandsons. Memorial contributions may be made to the Old Union Cemetery Association, 461 S. FM 1194, Lufkin, Texas 75904; Denman Avenue Baptist Church, 1807 E. Denman Ave., Lufkin, Texas 75901; Hospice in the Pines, 1504 W. Frank Ave., Lufkin, Texas 75904. The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home. Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com. Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.