Ranger Exes Memorial - RHS Class of 1963

Jerry Jones JERRY EUGENE JONES, 70, of Houston, TX, passed away April 16, 2015 at W. Houston Medical Center surrounded by his daughters, their mother and his dear cousin and wife. Jerry had a military burial of his ashes next to his mom & dad in Prairie View Cemetery in Aransas Pass, and at a later date with a final farewell at Red Fish Bay. Jerry was born Oct. 31, 1944 to James Edward Jones & Georgette Sunday Jones in Sugarland, TX. In 1950, he & his family moved to Ranger, TX where Jerry attended Ranger High School in the Class of 1963 and then on to Aransas Pass, TX where he graduated from high school. Shortly thereafter in 1964, Jerry joined the U.S. Air Force where he specialized in jet engine mechanics. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War. During his military career, he earned several medals including National Defense Service Medal, AF Outstanding Unit Award, Vietnam Service Medal, & Good Conduct Medal. Sergeant Jerry Jones was honorably discharged in 1970. The following twenty years were quite the ride for Jerry. He married Dorothy Gold in 1970 and had two loving daughters; Becky & Jenny. Although Jerry and Dorothy divorced in 1980, their friendship, love and devotion to their daughters remained for his lifetime. Jerry was a successful businessman working for several oil companies before starting his own company American Pipe Threading in 1979. With the decline of the oil industry and recession in the 1980s, Jerry was forced to close a business that brought him tremendous pro- sperity. Thereafter, his entrepreneurship & culinary skills coupled with his outgoing spirit and love of people inspired him to go into the restaurant business. He owned and operated a restaurant/bar/bowling alley in Houston and later a BBQ takeout restaurant as well as a bar known as The Frontier Palace in Aransas Pass. As the recession improved, he ultimately went back to work in the oil industry where his drive had him quickly climbing the ladder of success again at Schlumberger. In 1990, Jerry had a debilitating stroke but it didn't stop his will and determination to live and succeed. Although he could no longer speak and was partially paralyzed, he went on to rehabilitate and live inde- pendently for more than a decade still enjoying his love of dice, cards, bird hunting and fishing. Every chance he had, a fishing pole was in his hand for as long as his body allowed. As his health deteriorated, he was forced to live with 24 hour care for several years to come. His strong will kept him fighting for his independence regardless of the rules. Jerry was a force to be reckoned with continually pushing all limits and boundaries. Through all his trials and tribulation, he persevered. He worked hard, played hard, and loved hard. He would give anyone the shirt off his back, and his strength, determination, & passion will always be remembered. He was preceded in death by his parents and his grandparents. Survivors include his two daughters Becky Tully & husband Brian of Camillus, NY and Jenny Cerelli & husband Jason of Spring, TX; four grandchildren Laura and Joseph Tully and Alyssa & Avery Cerelli; two sisters Judy Jones Denton (RHS-1965) and Casey Jones Berg (RHS-1967) of Seymour, TN; as well as many nieces, nephews, other dear relatives & friends.