T. J. Jerry Jones - Obituary & Service Details

T. J. Jerry Jones

Service Schedule

Memorial Service

First Christian Church

915 S. Maple

Harrison, AR 72601

Saturday, December 12, 2015

10:00 AM

Map & Directions

Memorial Contributions

Ozark Share & Care

105 Hwy. 62-65 Bypass

Harrison, AR 72601

First Christian Church

915 S. Maple Street

Harrison, AR 72601

Buffalo River Foundation

PO Box 55

Ponca, AR 72670

T. J. Jerry Jones I am a Veteran.

of Harrison, AR

January 11, 1937 - December 7, 2015

Thomas Jerry ''T.J.'' Jones, age 78, was born on Crow Mountain January 11, 1937, to Benton Thomas Jones and Marie Ellen (Bowden) Jones. In his early years he spent much of his time hunting and fishing in Galla Creek Hollow on Crow Mountain where he often camped for extended periods. He had two brothers and three sisters. After graduating from high school and starting college at Arkansas Tech University, he entered the United States Army in 1958 and served with the 53rd Transportation Battalion in which supported above ground testing of atomic weapons at Camp Desert Rock, Nevada and the Nevada Proving Grounds. In this role he helped stage war games and logistically supported the maneuvers.

After his first tour in the Army, he returned to his college studies at College of the Ozarks in Clarksville. However, he was drafted for a second time as a Sergeant during the Cuban Missile Crisis and served at Fort Polk in Louisiana conducting combat training. After returning from service, he began working in the motor carrier transportation business in Kansas and then in Chicago, Illinois. T. J. then moved to Springfield, Missouri where he managed the Consolidated Freightways terminal and became president of the Springfield Jaycees.

In 1982, he moved to Harrison, Arkansas and began work with Sheridan Garrison and a few others to establish Arkansas Freightways. During this time he was also appointed by the Governor to the Arkansas Scenic Rivers Commission where he worked on establishing rivers in Arkansas as ''wild and scenic'', giving those streams protected status. In 1989, as Vice President of Operations, Arkansas Freightways went public and in 1993 the name was changed to American Freightways to better describe the scope of the services they offered. After 45 years of trucking, T. J. retired in 1994. At the time of his retirement, American Freightways was the third largest carrier in the United States in its segment and he remained on the Board of Directors until it was sold to FedEx in 2001.

After retirement, T. J. focused his efforts on giving back to the local community. He began working at the local food bank, Share and Care and eventually became a board member. T. J. also served as the overseer of the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign for many years and assisted the American Cancer Society's annual Relay for Life. He was also a life-long member of the Nature Conservancy and had worked on conservation issues in Arkansas. In 2008, the state Department of Human Services Division of Volunteerism and the governor's office honored him with their individual Arkansas Community Service Award. In 2008, he was also awarded an Honorary Degree in Business Management from the University of the Ozarks.

In 1991, T. J. was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer and on December 7, 2015 he passed peacefully with his closest family at his side at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville, Arkansas. Over the years, his illnesses never kept him from enjoying the wild places in Arkansas and elsewhere, but particularly in Boxley Valley where he spent significant time during the last years of his life.

T. J. is survived by his wife, Margaret Ann (Berry) Jones, of the home; his son, Timothy Jones (Stephanie), of Bentonville, Arkansas; his daughter, Jackie Kelly (Jim), of Harrison; his daughter, Amy Dixon (Floyd), of Memphis, Tennessee; his two grandchildren, Zach Kelly and Maggie Dixon; and his sisters, Pat Fisk and Betty Miller. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Neva Dean Price; and his brothers, John Paul Jones and Dick Jones.

Memorial service was Saturday, December 12, 2015, at First Christian Church, Harrison, with Dr. David Artman officiating. A celebration of his life was immediately follow in the Fellowship Hall.

Memorials in T. J.'s honor may be made to Ozarks Share and Care, 105 Hwy 62-65 Bypass, Harrison, AR 72601; Buffalo River Foundation, PO Box 55, Ponca, AR 72670; or First Christian Church, 915 S Maple St, Harrison, AR 72601; or the Boone County Unit of the Salvation Army, 105 Hwy. 62-65 Bypass, Harrison, AR 72601.

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19 Condolence(s)

Rita Moore

Harrison, AR

HARRISON, AR

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

I always enjoyed going to lunch with TJ. Always had a positive attitude about life, even while taking his treatments. Thoughts and prayers are with the family. TJ will be missed.