Gerald “Jerry” Jones

Gerald ‘Jerry’ Alan Jones, peacefully, passed away Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at his home, in Lake Sherwood, Missouri.

Jerry was born in Hannibal, Missouri, to JR and Florine Jones, on May 9^th, 1942. Having spent much of his youth in north and eastern Missouri and western Illinois; namely, Pittsfield and surrounding areas.

Upon graduating from Pittsfield High School, Class of 1960, Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Airforce, becoming an Airman at Shaw AFB, Sumter, South Carolina. In 1962, Jerry married his beautiful bride, Maria Luisa (Mary Lou) Longoria Jones, of Sarita, Texas. Jerry and Mary Lou would celebrate the birth of their only son, John Alan Jones, in 1963.

Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1964, Jerry transferred to the Air National Guard and was temporarily based at Lackland AFB, in San Antonio, Texas, only to reach his final destination of St. Louis, Missouri, when he transferred to the Air National Guard at Lambert Field (Lambert International Airport) in 1969, when Jerry and Mary Lou moved their family of three, to St. Peters, Missouri. Upon Air National Guard retirement, Jerry moved on to his second career at AVSCOM (US Army Aviation System Command) in St. Louis, where he would achieve retirement in 1984.

Jerry is survived by his son, John Alan Jones, John’s wife, Dewanna Sue (Trout) Jones and their children Gabriella Maria Jones and Reese Matthew Jones of St. Peters, Missouri. Jerry is preceded in death by his mother, Florine Delores (Judy) Jones in 1957, his father, J.R. Jones in 1984, stepmother LaVerne, in 1992, and his loving wife, Maria Luisa (Mary Lou) Longoria Jones in 1997.

Jerry was an athlete, a musician and a college graduate, earning his Master of Arts in 1976. He loved to write. Writing brought satisfaction and fulfillment. He loved sports competition; particular Track and Field. As a high-school senior, Jerry set a conference record in discuss throw competition. In 1976, Jerry and his family attended the Olympic Games in Montreal Games.

Following his retirement, in 1984, Jerry and Mary Lou, moved to Kingsville, Texas.

In his 20-plus years of retirement, you could find Jerry relaxing on his recliner, reading a book and watching TV. And while The Olympic Games may have been his obsession, animals and the caring of all creatures, large and small, were his passion. Jerry frequently volunteered at Animal Rescue Kleberg (ARK) in Kingsville, Texas and would eventually become a foster-failure, when he adopted Honey, a Red Healer, and Molly, a sweetheart of a mix of something.

He was a craftsman. He’d build things. Most with a touch of character, and made from wood: a clock, a bookshelf, a table for his prized TV. He did a lot of finish work on his homes in St. Peters, Kingsville, Texas and Lake Sherwood, in Marthasville, Missouri. He’d also often come up with a working, physical solution for most any challenge – truly, Jerry-rigged.

Upon Mary Lou’s passing in 1997, Jerry moved back to St. Louis, living his final years in Lake Sherwood, in Marthasville, Missouri.

He was an honest man. He was faithful and loyal to family and friends and bound to his words. Mary Lou’s last wish was he move back to Missouri, from Texas, when his grandchildren were born. And, as promised, he did, in 2003, and we are forever thankful.

Jerry, we are saddened your passing is untimely, but we know you are home and your loving bride, Mary Lou, is awaiting your arrival.

In lieu of flowers, please find it in your hearts to offer a donation, or your time, to a local animal shelter in your community, or you can make a contribution to The ARK (Animal Rescue Kleberg), 225 Henrietta Street, Kingsville, Texas, 78363, facebook.com/animalrescuekleberg, animalrescuekleberg@yahoo.com, (316) 516-1456. Jerry would be honored and very pleased with your choice.