Memorial Mass will be 10:00 am  Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 2200 W. Republic Road, Springfield, MO 65807.  Masks and social distancing will be required.

Raymond  Harold Jones was born March 13, 1947, at Breese, Illinois to Thomas Harold and Alice Catherine Mueller Jones. On April 2 he suffered a medical emergency while at his home, and was brought back to life by the angels among us, (caring neighbors, EMTs, and Mercy Hospital staff), allowing family a precious gift of time before Ray passed away at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, in the early minutes of April 3, 2020.

When Ray was a small boy, he moved with his family to Waynesville, Missouri. A graduate of Waynesville High School in 1965, he especially enjoyed being a member of the basketball team. He graduated from Linn Technical College in 1967 and was hired by Conductron, a sub contractor to McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft ,St Louis, MO, as a draftsman. He was drafted in to the United States Army for service in Vietnam, May 9, 1968, at Waynesville. Ray served with  the 35th Engineer Brigade, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal November 8, 1969.

He returned to his drafting job in St. Louis, but felt the need to continue his education. Ray enrolled at Poteau Community College, Poteau, Oklahoma, where he also played basketball.  He completed his Industrial Education degree at Southeastern State College, at Durant, Oklahoma in 1974. He began his teaching career at Crocker, MO as an industrial arts instructor and basketball coach.

In May of 1977 a new home economics teacher for the coming school was touring the school with the former teacher. Ray was introduced to this new teacher, Pam Morris. After her visit, the former teacher came to Ray, handed him a phone number and told him he should call this young woman. He did, and after some discussion, they agreed to a date, which led to many more, and their marriage July 21, 1978, First Baptist Church, Springfield, MO.

They started married life continuing their teaching careers at St James, MO. After one year they moved to Springfield, MO when Ray took a drafting job with Litton Industries.  After an economic downturn and a layoff, Ray returned to his true calling as an industrial arts teacher with the Springfield Public Schools. Ray and Pam received their Master's of Education degrees from Drury University in 1983. Ray taught  thousands of students over the years, helping them explore possible careers and learning skills they would use at home and in the work place. His longest tenure was at Pipkin Middle School, then Cherokee Middle School, and some part-time at Parkview and Kickapoo High Schools.

Ray's love of basketball continued throughout his life, as an assistant coach at times, to keeping the books at games, as well as being a fan in the stands supporting our Springfield teams.

After nearly fourteen years of marriage, Ray and Pam were thrilled to welcome their miracle baby girl, Valerie. She was adored by her Daddy and the feeling was mutual.

Ray was a member of the Missouri Vocational Association, the Missouri State Teachers Association, and the Missouri Retired Teachers Association.  He was a life long member of the Catholic church and attended St Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.

Ray enjoyed traveling with his family to our national parks and monuments. His favorites were Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. In Ray's honor, memorial donations to the National Parks Foundation to help preserve our nation's treasures for future generations would be appreciated.

Ray is survived by his wife Pam, and daughter Valerie Jones; sister Pat Baringer (Dick); brothers Bob Jones, and Dennis Jones (Kathy); Aunt Sue Jones Rohner; mother-in-law Jean Morris, nine nieces and nephews, and many cousins.