BILLY DON JONES
(January 31, 1942-July 12, 2021)

Our Heavenly Father called home his servant Billy Don Jones as the early evening sunset fell on July 12, 2021. He was lovingly surrounded by his best friend and loving wife of over 59 years, Noveta Kay Jones and their three sons-Carl, Lance and Robby.

Born on January 31, 1942, in Vernon, Texas, Don was the son of the late Cleburne Carl and Mamie Inez Jones. As a believer in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Don was baptized at a young age.

Don and his family then moved to the small north Texas town of Plainview. Don enjoyed sports and was an outstanding athlete. As a pitcher and third baseman for the Plainview High School baseball team, he was named co-captain and earned MVP honors during his senior year in 1960.

It was through his family's friendship with another Plainview family named Perkins, that he met the love of his life – Kay. Always having an eye for the one gal he thought most beautiful inside and out, for their first date, he asked Kay to accompany him to his senior year athletic banquet, and the two stayed side-by-side for the remainder of his life.

After his high school graduation in 1960, Don attended electronics trade school in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

As Don followed the path the Good Lord laid before him, Don and Kay married on October 6, 1961. Not long afterwards, they celebrated one New Year's Day welcoming their first son, Carl Don (born January 1, 1963) to their family.

In 1965, growing weary of the cold Texas Panhandle climate, Don, Kay & Carl-along with Don's parents- moved to Corpus Christi to continue working the family's masonry business in warmer weather. After their move to south Texas, Don and Kay welcomed two more strong sons to their family, Lance Dee (born on March 23, 1968) and Robby Ray (born on May 13, 1973).

Settling in Flour Bluff, Don and his entire family continued Jones Masonry with incredible hard work and dedication, bricking the inside and outside of homes and other structures, turning them into spectacular works of detailed construction for over 46 years.

Throughout his life, Don coached several baseball teams at Laguna Little League in various age divisions. During his coaching days, Don's teams, which included his brother, Rick, and his sons Carl and Lance, earned 8 championships, which included 7 All-Star teams. Don and Kay also followed son Robby with immense pride as he became a state champion surfer and participated in multiple national competitions.

Don and Kay supported their sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in everything in which they participated: Laguna Little League Baseball, Flour Bluff sport teams, surfing competitions, Ranger Jr. College baseball, Alvin Jr. College baseball, University of Texas baseball, Tuloso-Midway Marching Band, Laguna Little Miss Kickball, and the Special Olympics, to name a few.

Don, Kay and their boys made Flour Bluff not just their home and community, but their extended family. One could usually find Don and Kay on a golf course. If they weren't out enjoying playing the links, Don loved fishing and sharing with his sons his love of planes by flying his radio-controlled model airplanes at Waldron Field. There was no better view of a Blue Angels show than on the roof of the Jones home, where they hosted many friends and family to enjoy the shows with them. Don also never missed a Dallas Cowboys game, or a Houston Astros game (no matter how they played any particular season).

Don is preceded in death by his father Cleburne Carl Jones, mother Mamie Inez Jones, and brother Doyle Dan Jones.

Don is survived by his loving wife of over 59 years, Noveta Kay Jones. He also leaves two brothers- Lonnie Carl Jones (Patricia) of Plainview, Texas and Ricky Dale Jones (Barbara) of Corpus Christi.

In addition, Don is survived by his three sons: Carl Jones (Mary Anne), Lance Jones (Shaun) and Robby Jones (Elizabeth) who all still call Flour Bluff home.

Don is also survived by his grandchildren: Travis Jones (Ariel) of Flour Bluff, Senior Airman Shayne Jones (United States Air Force, Offutt AFB, Omaha, Nebraska), Kevin Jones and Taya Jones of Flour Bluff, Darian Claybourn-Lee (James) of Aransas Pass and Jenna Claybourn of Flour Bluff. Don was also blessed with three great-grandchildren: Travis, Jr., Sofia and Bryson Jones, all of Flour Bluff.

Words cannot express how much the family and community will miss Don. We are certain that the Holy Spirit gloriously welcomed Don with His Grace, and as Don entered the presence of our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Don will have said "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful" (2 Timothy 4:7 NLT).