Billy Carroll Jones was born Friday, June 14, 1929 in Apple Springs, Texas to Clyde Earl and Bessie Mae (Young) Jones. Billy, 92, shy of his 93rd birthday by 17 days, went to be with Jesus, Saturday, May 28, 2022 at Mineral Wells Rehab & Nursing home, Mineral Wells, Texas.
Billy, the oldest of 10 children, was truly the “big brother” and protector to his younger siblings.
At a very young age he worked alongside his father, logging in the piney woods. His first paying job was opening and closing the gate for the log trucks, each paying him 25 cents, whenever they came in or left. Billy used the money to buy his school clothes and feed for his horse. As a beloved brother, his sisters spoiled him with love and he took to that like a duck takes to water!
Billy quit school in the 10th grade because one of his teachers was going to paddle him. He drove a truck until “Uncle Sam” said ‘we want you’ and he served our country for 2 years. While in the army he learned to play the guitar. Billy drove trucks for 63 years, traveling to 48 of our 50 states, the last 37 years as on owner/operator for their own company, B-J Trucking. After retiring from trucking due to health challenges, Billy spent most of his spare time playing music, going to different musicals on weekends. He was a great musician and when someone was playing with him that was still learning, Billy could be singing a song, then you’d hear him say a cord and in the next breath go right on singing.
Billy married (Jo) Josephine Louise Hunt, the love of his life, on April 25, 1967 in Lovington, New Mexico. He was a member of the Gordon church of Christ.
He was preceded in death by his parents Clyde and Bessie Jones, 3 brothers John Paul, Jack Wayne and Sonny Morris Jones, son Clay Michael Jones, daughter Jodie LeeAnne Jones, grandson Quinton Jones, granddaughter Sara LeeAnne Garthright and great granddaughter Ashtyn Cornett.
Billy is survived by his wife, Jo, of 55 years, (or if you were around Billy & Jo very much, she was also known as “Sweet Darlin”), four daughters, Carroll (Andy) De La O, Carla Dixon, Leslie (Larry) Griffin and Jamie Leathers, grandsons Lee Jones, David Cornett, Andrew & Carroll Wayne Griffin, and Tripp Leathers, granddaughters Rachel Fox, Laura Cowen, Ashley Ayers, and Bailey Rose Clark, 17 great grandchildren, Sisters Jerri Mangum, Dorothy Dishman, JoAnn Finley, Barbara Sockwell, Linda Thompson, Debbie Etue; Nieces, Nephews, his musician friends and church family. Billy is also survived by his special brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Archie and Carol Miller, and their 2 children, Dale and Raelynn Miller, (Billy & Jo actually moved into the Miller’s home before the Miller’s moved in, in April 1973. This was just temporary, 49 plus years ago and they are still here, just across the driveway!).
Visitation will be Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at Edwards Funeral Home in Strawn, Tx. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Gordon Church of Christ. Burial will follow at the Doty Cemetery.
