Gayla Lynn Jones

Gayla Lynn Jones, 61, of Royalton, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, August 11, 2025, at Herrin Hospital.
Gayla was born on March 26, 1964, in Herrin to Dale and Sonnie (Baggott) Gulley. She was united in marriage to the love of her life, Tom Jones on June 28, 1986, at the Royalton First Baptist Church. They shared 39 years of marriage together.
Gayla was a 1982 graduate of Zeigler-Royalton High School. She continued her education at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, where she earned her master's degree in Adult and Continuing Education.
Gayla was a longtime teacher at Unity Christian School in Energy and later at Agape Christian High School. She was most recently employed with Scott Evans CPA in Murphysboro as a secretary.
Gayla was a longtime, faithful member of Royalton First Baptist Church, where she played the piano in the worship team for many years. She enjoyed crocheting, cooking and baking, including making her own bread from scratch. She also enjoyed gardening.
She is survived by her husband, Tom Jones of Royalton; three children, Josiah (Anna) Jones of Houston, TX, LeeAnn Jones of Bloomington, IN, and Kassi (Jeremiah) Teal of Marion; mother, Sonnie Gulley of Royalton; sister, Dana (Travis) Stuart of Marion; sisters and brothers-in-law, Lisa Jones of Herrin, Richard (Lori) Jones of Herrin, Betsy (Brian) Delai of Herrin; nieces, Jennifer Savickis, of Indianapolis, IN, Heather Goetsch of Stafford, VA, and Sophia Stuart of Marion, Maria Ogden of Herrin, and Olivia Delai of Herrin; nephews, Zachary Hagstrom-Jones of South Bend, IN, and Alexander Jones of Herrin.
She is preceded in death by her father and infant son, Christian Jones; father and mother-in-law, Cicero and Judy Jones.
Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, August 15, 2025, at the Royalton Baptist Church.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 16, 2025, at the church with Pastor Mario Ramos officiating. Interment will follow at Herrin City Cemetery.
Vantrease-Pyle Funeral Home of Royalton is entrusted with the arrangements.