Bud Jones

Mr. Robert F. Jones, fondly known as Bud, age 94, of Tallapoosa, GA passed away peacefully Thursday, October 17th, 2024. He was born on September 22nd, 1930 in Tallapoosa, GA. He was the son of Dorsey Victor Jones and Mary Fitzgerald Jones.
Bud always had a passion for the outdoors from a very young age that his parents nurtured and encouraged, and at the age of 19 started writing an outdoor column for the Tallapoosa Journal under the column name, The Old Woodsman. Bud continued to write for the Tallapoosa Journal and The Gateway Beacon up until his passing. His last family outing was visiting Cheaha State Park, which was a favorite place to go.
After graduating from Tallapoosa High School, he attended North Georgia College where he played basketball for the college team. He graduated with a degree in Biology, and soon afterwards he entered the US Army, where for 6 months he entertained the troops. After basic training, it was Bud's job to sing folk songs to the new Army inductees, a job he held for nearly a year and a half. After his army experience, Bud and his wife Jackie moved to Casper, Wyoming, where Bud worked in a taxidermy shop learning the trade. While there, he had a weekly television program, singing folk songs, on the old TV station, KSPR-TV. The program was very popular all over central Wyoming.
Upon coming back to Tallapoosa, Bud taught high school biology for six years at Buchanan High School in Buchanan, GA. He also started writing an outdoor column called Living Outdoors for the local papers, which he wrote up until his death.
In 1972, Bud and Jackie went into the taxidermy business full time. They became one of the largest taxidermy businesses in the Southeast, where they mounted animals from all over the world.
In 1990, Bud began writing western novels with six being published.
Bud was an active member on Bethany Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and he also taught a senior Sunday school class which he truly loved. He and his wife Jackie also co-sponsored a group of seniors called the Senior Friends for over 50 years.
Bud loved his family, friends, and church family. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jackie; daughter, Holly Jones, both of Tallapoosa; Robin Craig and son-in-law, Mark Craig, of Acworth; and daughter, Cherry Jones, of Buchanan; grandchildren, Caroline Buttimer, Bailey Buttimer Carter, Sarah Craig Maccaglia, Sam Craig, Jack Craig, Alex Doyle, and Mary Jo Graham; great-grandchildren, Analise, Lawson, Liam and Emmaline Carter; a number of nieces and nephews, who he loved dearly, and his dog, Murphy.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dorsey Victor Jones; one brother, Dorsey Jones; sisters, Mary Hugh Macdonald, Virginia Doss, Elizabeth (Bett) Crowell; nephew, Matt Jones; and granddaughter, Leah Craig.
Bud was the founder of the West Georgia Museum of Tallapoosa where he served as Chairman of the Board up until his passing.
Funeral services for Mr. Bud Jones will be held, Sunday, October 20, 2024, at 3:00 PM EST from Bethany Baptist Church with Rev. Kevin Ayers officiating. Eulogies will be given by Johnny Wright, Mark Buttimer, Dan Spalding and the Honorable Judge Eddie Hulsey. Music will be provided by Joel and Brenda Agan and Eddie Hulsey. Gentlemen serving as pallbearers are Wade Chaffin, Wes Chaffin, Steadman Saxon, Neal Saxon, Greg Cook, Mark Craig, Jack Craig, Anthony Maccaglia, Rodney Newman and Blake Graham.
Interment will follow in Bethany Church Cemetery with Haralson County Veterans Association providing military honors.
His family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in his honor to the West Georgia Museum of Tallapoosa where his dream can continue. Donations may be given at the funeral or mailed to P. O. Box 725, Tallapoosa, GA, 30176.