Tommy Leon Jones, 80, passed away on March 30, 2019 in Tulsa. He was born May 28,1938 in Claremore, Oklahoma. He was one of six children born to Adam and Hattie Jones of Stidham, Oklahoma.
Tommy Leon attended Stidham Schools from first to twelfth grade. This is where he met his High School sweetheart, Carolyn. Tommy loved sports mostly baseball and basketball and had a love for horses. The "Pony Express" had nothing on him for he delivered the "Grit" newspaper by horseback. During the summer he worked in Muskogee, Oklahoma at a bottling company this is where he became interested in automobiles.
After graduating from High School in 1957 Tommy moved to Wichita, KS and became employed with Boeing Aircraft. He and Carolyn married and lived in Wichita for a short period of time before moving to Shawnee, Oklahoma where he started working for Jonco. While living in Shawnee, Tommy and Carolyn's first daughter, Regina Kay otherwise known as Gina was born. Thirteen months later daughter number two, Tina Marie was born. She was named after a Perry Como song that Tommy had heard on the radio as he and Carolyn were driving. He said, "If he ever had another daughter, he was going to name her "Tina Marie" whom later became known as "Sammie Said".
Tommy decided aircraft was not his career choice and that he wanted to attend Okmulgee Tech for Auto Collison Repair. Soon after, Tommy received his diploma and Carolyn received her PHT ("Pushing Hubby Through").
Tommy uprooted his family and moved to Tulsa and worked for numerous automotive collision shops. This is when Tommy Jr was born. Tommy and Carolyn bought their first home in Tulsa in 1963. All three children played sports. Tommy coached the girls' softball team and when Tommy Jr was old enough to play baseball, he then coached his Little League Baseball team. We participated in archery competitions as a family. Tommy even made and fletched the arrows. He and his family had many hobbies which included, camping, boating, teaching all the kids to water ski and fishing. His oldest daughter, Gina, shared the same love of horses just like her daddy. If there was any free time on the weekends, you could find Tommy calf roping at Turley. His favorite hobby was quail hunting with his prized bird dogs that he raised and trained himself-- just to name a few: Duke, Apache, Commanche, and Sadie Girl.
October 1975, Tommy and Carolyn decided it was time for them to start their own automotive collision repair shop "Jones Body Shop." Their logo was "We Build Beautiful Bodies". After thirty-two years of ownership, they retired in May 2007. After retirement from Jones Body Shop, Tommy and Carolyn stayed so busy they did not know how in the world they ever had time to work. They also enjoyed traveling. Tommy was also involved with the Akdar Shrine Provost Guard from 1985 to present.
During this time, four grandchildren have grown up and three of the four are married. Tommy and Carolyn were blessed with five beautiful great grandchildren.
Tommy is preceded in death by his parents, Adam and Hattie Jones; siblings, George William and Tiny Sue; two sons, Steven Eric Jones and Tommy Jones, Jr. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Carolyn of over sixty-one years; daughters, Regina Jones Cook of Tulsa, Tina Jones Wilkes and her husband, Robby of Broken Arrow; granddaughters, Tama Cook Rollings and her husband, Bryan of Dallas, TX, Amanda Wilkes Brown and her husband, Caleb of Broken Arrow, Alyssa Jones Hacker and her husband, Colby of Coweta; grandson, Carlton Cook of Tulsa; great granddaughters, Tucker Rollings and Bella Brown; great grandsons, Owen Hacker, Emmitt and Rhett Brown; brothers, Bobby Ray Jones, and his wife, Doris of Stidham and Adam Jones, Jr. and his wife, Mary Jane of Stidham; sister, Carrie Lee Williams and her husband, Danny of Stidham, many precious nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The visitation will be 5-7PM, Friday, April 5, 2019 at Moore's Southlawn Funeral Home. The funeral service will be 2PM, Saturday, April 6, 2019 at Little Coweta Indian Baptist Church in Lenna, OK. The "Last Hand Shake" will follow the service in Morrison Cemetery, Lenna, OK. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Tommy Leon's memory to Morrison Cemetery, Attn: Russell Reed, 407371 E. 1130 Rd., Eufaula, OK 74432.
Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233