Cleo "Buddy" Jones was born November 10, 1933 to Ralph and Anna (Carsten) Jones and born into heaven on November 11, 2020. He was the youngest of eight, three boys and 5 girls. He grew up on the family farm in Nixa and graduated from Clever High School in 1951. Buddy retired from Mid-America Dairymen where he was a lab technician for 43 years.

Buddy loved country music and being around people. He had a kind heart and deep love for family. He was always compassionate to those in need of his help. He had a joy for living life.

Buddy's music career spanned over 60 years of his life. He sang and played rhythm guitar and bass. He played in many local bands, on The Slim Wilson Show as part of the Tall Timber Trio, and toured with Rex Allen, Sr. He played and knew too many in the music industry to try to name.

November 10, 1978, he married Clara Wolfinbarger. They shared a great love for country music, travel, Cardinal baseball, spending time with family and attending grandkid's sporting events. He loss his soulmate in February this year.

Buddy is preceded in death by his parents, siblings and wife Clara.

Buddy is survived by a daughter, Sheri (Don) Duncan; a son Perry (Kim) Wolfinbarger. Also surviving are grandchildren, Barry (Lisa) Duncan; Cori (Jay) Cessna; Ben (Josie) Wolfinbarger, Bethany (Corey) Peterson; eleven great and five great-great grandchildren; (two) sister-in-laws Alice Wagnon and Kay Burton; numerous nephews, nieces and close friends.

Graveside service will be Saturday, November 21 at 11 a.m. at Delaware Cemetery in Nixa, MO with Jamie Bilyeu officiating.  Memorial donations in memory of Buddy and Clara can be made to Riverdale Baptist Church, PO Box 1571, Nixa, MO 65714.

Thoughts shared by the family:
Other family members would turn to Buddy for help, gather at his house or come to town to visit him. He was "my favorite uncle" for many.

He always said "thank you".  At the hospital, after taking blood, he replied "thank you". The lady said, I don't believe I've ever been thanked for that before.

He enjoyed pulling a joke/prank on someone.

Cleo had so many stories of his travel while touring the US with Rex Allen, Speedy Haworth and Slim Wilson. He loved to share his memories of music. Being able to play and tour was a "highlight" of his life.  Speedy Haworth was one of my Dad's best friends.

There is a street in Nixa, Jones Ct, named after him.  It is in a subdivision with other like "Slim Wilson Blvd", "Allen Ct", "Red Foley Circle", etc.

He was easy to cry at joyful things.

On both sides of his home are two neighbors that were always checking on Buddy and Clara.  Bringing them food, etc.  After Clara passed, Buddy struggled with not being able to be around people, as Covid began just a few weeks after her death.  Marty Mills, neighbor, would ask Jerry Tersinar, neighbor, and Buddy to come over every night for a beer.  They would sit out on patio from early evening until sometimes 9 at night. My Dad got great joy in doing this and being able to talk to someone.

Every summer growing up my Dad, Mom and I would travel.  We always went in May to Indiana to visit Dad's niece and family. A couple times a year we went to Ft. Smith to see my Dad's brother's family. And a few times a year we would go to Kansas to visit my Dad's oldest sister when she lived there and my Dad's oldest brother. As I got older, we also would go to places like Washington DC or Galveston, etc.  Travel was a big part of our life.

Every weekend my parents were going somewhere. On Saturday night, my Dad played music. This would be from a home, to a town event, to a town community center, etc. it was "a way of life" for us.  I guess I thought that is just how you lived life.

Buddy was a Shriner, Abou Ben Adhem Temple, Springfield, MO. He went through the "ranks" with his friends from work.

The Lab Techs at work and their families were all close friends with my Dad.  They played on a baseball team, a basketball team and bowled together. Getting together to play cards or games were common during weeknights when I was younger.

Clara and Dad were soulmates.  Clara completed Buddy. Clara's 27-year battle with cancer was met with Buddy at her side always. He sat through chemo sessions with her. He took her to doctor appointments anywhere. Clara's illness became Buddy's way of life. He prepared light meals, did laundry, grocery shopping, helped Clara with personal tasks, more than most realize. Clara was the love of his life. You rarely saw Buddy without Clara.  They were always together.

Dealing with the loss of Clara Feb 25th and Covid just a few weeks later took its toll on Buddy. He "needed" to be around people, to socialize.

My husband, Don and I were very close with my Dad, Buddy, and Clara. We were able to travel the US with them for many years. We were family and great friends as well. We tried new things, enjoyed so many laughs, drove for miles out of the way to buy pie and saw so much of the US together.

In 1985 we traveled with Men of West Band to Rex Allen Days in Wilcox, Arizona. This was the first time I had seen my Dad perform with Rex Allen or as a "professional". It was an eye-opening experience. We had people trying to peak in our motel room windows, follow us, taking pictures of us. I had never imaged my Dad living like this on the road. My Dad is in the Rex Allen Museum in Wilcox as one of the Men of the West band members that were a part of Rex Allen's tours. Note: Men of West Band were Speedy Haworth, Slim Wilson, Shirley Jean Haworth, Rex Denny, Larry Jackson and my Dad.