James "J.R." Jones

James Ray Jones age 88 of Durant, Oklahoma passed away on December 27, 2022, in Denton, Texas. James, known as J.R., was born on October 13, 1934, in Utica, Oklahoma to James Thomas and Maddie Irene (Loftis) Jones. J.R. graduated from Blue High School and Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He married Betty Laverne Renshaw on July 24, 1954, in Blue and they were blessed with two children, Gary and Jill. He proudly served the State of Oklahoma in the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma National Guard for twenty years. After retiring from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, J.R. served as Chief of Security for Southeastern for fourteen years. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Durant, McAlester Shriners, Jaycees, Durant Elks Lodge, and the Department of Public Safety Retired Troopers Association. J.R. deeply loved his family and friends and enjoyed playing golf and watching football and basketball. J.R. is preceded in death by his parents Mr. and Mrs. James Jones; brother in laws Walter Lambert and James Renshaw; brother and sister-in-law Fred and Holly Webb and nephew Rick Jones. J.R.’s greatest joy was watching Sunday and Monday night football with his son Gary each week and watching his grandchildren accomplish their dreams. His daughter Jill was the light of his life and looked forward to her visit each week. Left behind to carry on J.R.’s legacy are his wife of sixty-eight years Betty Jones of the home; son Gary Jones of Durant, OK; daughter Jill Sutherland and husband Tom of Celina, TX; granddaughter Lauren Sutherland of Celina, TX; grandson Carson Sutherland of Celina, TX; sister Lodema Lambert of Durant, OK; brothers Ron Jones and wife Janis of Durant, OK and Mike Jones and wife Wanda of Galletin, TN and numerous nieces, nephews and many friends. Services to celebrate J.R.’s amazing life will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at Brown’s Funeral Service Chapel. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Chaplain Sam Garner will officiate. Honorary pallbearers will be JR’s coffee brothers and all First Responders. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.brownsfuneralservice.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Brown’s Durant Funeral and Cremation Service. https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/ZGJF5L79N9CGRP43

James "J.R." Jones

October 13, 1934 - December 27, 2022