Jeral "Bob-O" Ray Jones

Jeral Ray Jones was born in Midland, Texas on October 24, 1938 to George Eldred and Zuddie Lee Jones. He grew up in Midland as a much-loved brother to Mildred “Millie” and Juanita “Neet”. At a young age, he started working alongside his father doing carpentry and construction. 

He later married and joined the Army. After his tour in Europe ended, he moved to Oklahoma City, where he welcomed two daughters. Following the birth of his children, he put himself through college and graduated from Oklahoma State with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He then moved his family to St. Louis for job training, then on to Houston to continue his career as an Engineer. 

After several years, he was single once again and met the woman he would be married to the rest of his life. The loving father of two daughters was now a loving father of four daughters and a son. He and Dora moved to Kaufman, Texas where they would live for many years. His career as an Engineer took him all over the U.S., enabling he and Dora to frequently travel together before they eventually retired to Houston. Along the way, they welcomed and loved several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was “Bob-O” and she was “Granny”. 

In 2018, Dora had a stroke which left her paralyzed on the left side. For the remaining 5 years of her life, their marriage remained solid and strong. He was a source of constant emotional support to her, as well as her biggest advocate while she was in a nursing home. He catered to her every want and need—sparing no expense to keep her comfortable and make her happy. 

Less than two years after Dora’s death, he was diagnosed with Mesothelioma which he contracted during his career as an Engineer. In the early morning hours of August 21, Dora welcomed her beloved “Jonesy” to their eternal home. His family was devastated to lose him, but comforted to know he was healed and reunited with those who had passed before him.

He was a wonderful husband to Dora, an awesome big brother to his sister, a loving father to his children, and a beloved “Bob-O” to many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed studying the Bible, going to garage sales, watching gospel shows on tv, creating concoctions in the kitchen (that were often inedible to everyone except him), hunting, fishing, Marty Robbins music, and drinking hot green tea. In his later years, he always had a “grabber” nearby which enabled him to easily reach things.

He was “one in a million” and will be deeply missed and forever cherished by many: his sister Juanita, his children Janalyn, Cathy (Randy), Mischelle, Yvonne, and Ray (Kim), his grandchildren Ryan (Autumn), Brian (Stefan), Savanah, Jeralyn (James), Ashely (Carlos), Misty, Shelby (Steven), Brianna (John), Deven (Baylee), and Colby, his great-grandchildren Brooklyn, Little James, Luke, Jamielyn, Ayden, Duke, Jaxon, and Caroline, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and long-time friends Jerry & Helen Schroeder in Kaufman, and Gerry & Nancy O’Brien in Houston.