James Netzley Jones

James Netzley Jones, 82, passed peacefully into the hands of our Lord and Savior on July 21, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. James was born on May 12, 1943 to William (Bill) Jesse Jones and Dora Turner in Caddo Oklahoma. He was the youngest of five children. When he was an infant his family left Caddo and traveled as far as their old car with water bags on the front of it would take them. That town was Amarillo Texas.
After graduating from Tascosa High School, James married his first wife Vicki at 19 years old and they had three children together. During his early life he worked several jobs in Amarillo in order to provide for his growing family. The most notable of which were the old Smelter plant in Amarillo (which is now the Arsco Plant). During this time, James and Vicki divorced.
After leaving the Smelter, James went to work for the United States Department of Energy Pantex Plant on May 12, 1960. He worked for Pantex for a total of 51 years moving around the plant in several positions including General Stores, Transportation, Fire Department and the Authorization Basis Department. He worked his way through the Fire Department from firefighter to Chief. He worked in the Fire Department for 21 years. He left the Fire Department to work in the Authorization Basis Department writing safety requirements for the operational equipment throughout the plant until his retirement.
James met Patricia at the Pantex Plant, where they worked together. He was a fire department Assistant Chief and she was a Utility dispatcher. They hated each other and often had many conflicting arguments over procedural emergencies. They met one night while out with a group of friends, and started talking. Both of them knew that they found the love of their lives, this was on December 6 of 1996. They were engaged after only 3 months of dating and married by 6 months. James and Patricia Jones were married on June 6, 1997. They had just celebrated 28 years together. After twelve years of marriage they adopted their two children when their daughter was 3 years old and their son was 15 months old. James was concerned about adopting these kids at his age because he was going to be 83 when his son graduated from high school. However, with a lot of prayer, he was able to overcome this insecurity. He told the judge on the day of adoption, that as long as he was able to provide for these kids, they would never go hungry or want for anything. He fulfilled that statement until the day he passed and is still providing for them in the future as well.
James retired from Pantex on July 1, 2011 to move his family to Granbury Texas. After retiring from Pantex and moving to Granbury, James went to work for the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant. He worked there for about 2 years until an accident forced him to leave. He then worked at Home Depot for another year until he went back to Pantex for five years until the 2020 pandemic. When he returned to Granbury he found a Security job at DeCordova Bend Estates. He was still working until illness forced him to slow down.
In addition to his thriving career James had several hobbies. He was an avid softball pitcher and played in several softball tournaments over the span of 30+ until he retired at age 65. He also loved taking his family boating all across the country. One of the most notable trips was James and Pat's first 4th of July in Granbury. After watching the fireworks on the lake while attempting to dock their boat another boat crashed into them forcing the bow of the boat under the dock. From that moment on James swore he'd never go out on the lake during the 4th of July ever again.
James was a great story teller and loved to tell stories to anyone who would listen. He also loved to tell "Little Johnny" jokes and pull pranks on unsuspecting targets. Many of these pranks were on his wife. But she gave it back to him as much as he gave to her! Their life together was full of fun and family. They went on many vacations until the time for the kids to go to school.
James was preceded in death by his parents, William (Bill) Jones, his mother Dora Turner, his older brothers William Jesse Jones Jr (Pete), Sam Jones and Earl Thomas Jones.
James is survived by his wife Patricia Jones, his daughter Madison Jones, and son Hunter Jones, all from Granbury. From his first marriage he is survived by a daughter Rebecca Jones Taylor (Ed) of California, Jamie Jones of California, and Kris Jones (Beth) Highland Park, Texas. One sister, Bettie Rose Jones Horne of Greenwood South Carolina. Three grand daughters that he thought the world of and was very proud of them. Many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Services are set for August 6, at 11:00 and will be at Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
Charities James supported were St. Jude Children's Hospital and any branch of the Military.
Please go out and celebrate James' beautiful life by drinking his favorite drink, an ice cold margarita!
Arrangements under the care of Wiley Funeral Home, Granbury, Texas.