Theodore Livingston Jones

December 21, 1931 - January 8, 2021

Theodore (Ted) L. Jones, longtime Claremore businessman, passed away Friday, January 8, 2021. He was 89 years old. Ted Jones was born on December 21, 1931, in Parrish, Alabama, to Lloyd and Rilla Jones. He graduated from Parrish High School in 1950. He was the youngest of five children. Coming from very humble beginnings—his father was blind and passed away while Ted was in the Air Force and Rilla only had an elementary school education—Ted quickly found himself supporting his mother and extended family at a very young age. In part, this is what also drove him to succeed in business so that he could continue to help not only his family but others needing support just as his family did at various times over the years. He joined the U.S. Air Force, serving in the last squadron of B-29s at Lowry Air Force Base near Denver, Colorado. It was while in Denver that he met Corrinne “Corky” Jones, marrying on June 20, 1953. (Corky passed away in May, 2003, just short of their 50th anniversary.) Following his enlistment, he attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, graduating with a degree in accounting. They adopted their first child, Jeff, in Kansas City, MO, in January 1960 and adopted their second child, Dixie, in Colorado in 1963. Ted eventually moved the family to Tucson where Tad was born in 1972. In 1973, Ted seized the opportunity to purchase a regional oil company, based in Chelsea, that he renamed Green Country Oil & Gas, and the family settled in Claremore. Ted and Corky quickly immersed themselves in their new setting. Their first step was finding a church family, joining the Blur Starr Church of Christ and making it their home for over 35 years. Ted and Corky were dedicated churchgoers and supported the church in many ways: teaching bible classes, hosting youth group devotionals and church picnics at their home, shuttling senior citizens to fun events…you name it! Ted and Corky loved to serve this church, raising their own three children in this extended “family” with the lifelong blessing that all three are still firm believers thanks to the example set by their parents. In addition to their church involvement, Ted and Corky quickly became involved in supporting the communities of Claremore and Chelsea. Ted began his civic involvement by joining the Claremore Lion’s Club where he would serve for several decades. He also contributed to the Booster Club in Oologah, joined the boards of the Claremore Hospital, Claremore Chamber of Commerce, and the Rogers State University Foundation where he helped secure a $125,000 donation from Texaco for the Rogers State College Education Reserve. He served as a Will Rogers Memorial Commissioner and as president of the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce and the Chelsea School Foundation. Ted dedicated significant time and energy to developing and supporting Hope Harbor Children’s Home. He was also involved in various improvements to the City of Claremore and his proudest was the building of the new Rogers County Courthouse. Ted also loved coaching kids and coached several little league baseball teams in Claremore. Ted was a civic-minded man and a passionate member of the Rogers County Republican Party. He supported many candidates over the years and even took his young kids out campaigning for candidates such as Henry Bellmon and Don Nickels in the 1970s. Later, he supported rising stars such as Jim Inhofe, Tom Coburn, and Frank Keating, to name just a few. His favorite politician to support was his son, Tad Jones, who ran for office in 1998 and who would go on to serve the local district as a State Representative for 12 years. Ted served as the volunteer coordinator for the community response to the 1991 tornado that devastated portions of the local area and led a food and clothing drive following storms that ravaged Louisiana and Florida. In 1993 was recognized by the Claremore Progress and “Progressive Citizen of the Year,” a testament to his life-long devotion to helping others in the community. Even in his later years, he continued his public service efforts by volunteering at the Rogers Country Jail, making visits with inmates, offering bible studies, and doing what he could to help people get a fresh start. His central focus in life was always his family, primarily his children, but also fostering and maintaining close relations with a broad extended family of siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews, and a growing number of grandchildren. Ever one to emphasize how important “family” was, he went so far as to arrange a surprise reconciliation between an older brother and sister who had feuded for 25 years. Although he worked hard every day to provide for his family, building a business with Corky, he nevertheless found time support his kids’ interests and endeavors, whether it be Jeff’s creative talents in singing and photography, Dixie’s interest in horses, or Tad’s many sporting events. His support continued to the very end, traveling to North Carolina and Virginia for grandkids’ graduations and music concerts, attending the graduation of grandson Bryden from U.S. Army boot camp in Georgia, and attending the many activities of grandsons Logan, Blake, Conner, and Pierce, who live in Claremore. Ted—Dad—loved people, but family was his Joy. Ted was a dedicated storyteller, loving nothing more than traveling, collecting experiences, meeting new people, and telling stories about all of it! A high point for him and Corky was attending the inaugural ball for President Ronald Reagan. We have often laughed about how often Dad told the same stories over and over again, him finding the same amount of enjoyment in each telling. Now, we can only hope he told them often enough that we never forget them. Dad lived a good live and he made a difference in the lives of his family and all with whom he came into contact. Thank you, Dad! We love you and will miss you. Ted is survived by his children and their spouses, Jeff and Shirley Jones of Arizona, Dixie and Dakota Wood of Virginia, and Tad and Sammi Jones of Claremore, eight grandchildren—Bryden Jones; Aubrie-Madison, Liam, and Emma Wood; and Logan, Blake, Connor, and Pierce Jones—and two great grandchildren: Anastasia and Conner Jones. He was preceded by his wife and four siblings. A Reception in honor of Ted will be held at the Will Rogers Memorial on Tuesday, January 12th, from 2-4pm and a graveside service will be held on Wednesday, January 13th, at 3pm at Floral Haven in Broken Arrow. See www.floralhaven.com for more information. Out of concern for those who may be especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus, we ask that those attending the reception and/or graveside service wear a mask and observe social distancing recommendations. We will certainly be comforted by your presence. Memorial contributions may be made to Hope Harbor Children’s Home, 15025 East 380 Rd, Claremore, OK 74017, www.hopeharborinc.org.