James Miller "Reelman" Jones' Obituary
James M. Jones, “The Reel Man”, 72, veteran, passed away Friday, November 25, 2016 following complications from chemotherapy. He was born August 1, 1944 in Lawrence, Kansas to James and Juanita Jones who have both predeceased him. His grandmother raised Jim. He graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1962. Jim’s military service was in the United States Army as an SP-5 Aircraft Flight Engineer from 1965 to 1968 in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged. Thank you Jim for your service and sacrifice. You are a true American Hero. He worked at Hesse Corporation in Kansas City, Missouri as a Production Supervisor including Field Service, Engineering and Quality Assurance from 1969 to 1979. While working at Hesse he attended Longview-Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, Missouri from 1975 to 1978 and received Associate of Arts Degrees in Business Administration, Industrial Engineering and Mid Management. In March of 1979 he started working at Kenworth Truck Company in Kansas City, Missouri as a Production Supervisor and subsequently as a Senior Planner in the Materials Department. He continued working in Kansas City until the plant was shut down and he got transferred to Seattle, Washington as a Senior Materials Planner. Jim retired after 20 years with Kenworth (PACCAR) in August of 1999 and moved with his wife, Carolyn, to Tulsa, Oklahoma to help take care of her elderly parents. It didn’t take too much persuasion on Carolyn’s part to get him back to the Midwest where fishing and bass boats were his second love (Carolyn being his first). Jim didn’t waste any time coming out of retirement. He went to work at Okie Bug in the Reel Repair Department and continued there until Okie Bug was closed down. Bass Pro then acquired the “Reel Man” in 2005 when they opened their store in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Jim worked part time in the Fishing Department until a few years ago when numerous back injuries and surgeries ended his working career. Jim is preceded in death by his father and mother, James and Juanita Jones and one son, Richard Jones. His wife, Carolyn, of 36 years; one son, Robert Jones and his wife, Shawn, and their two children, Skye and Drake of Houston, Texas, survive him. Other survivors include the children of Richard Jones, son Chris and daughter Kelly of Houston, Texas. All of Jim’s friends know only one side of the man I married. He was rough, funny, sometimes sarcastic and full of energy and life. His knowledge of fishing and fishing reels earned him the title of “Reel Man”. But that “Reel Man” was a tender and understanding man who gave me all the love my heart could ever want, love that I could lean on in good times and bad, love that made me feel safe, love that stirred my soul. I was proud to be his wife, the one that got to walk by his side throughout life. As I sat by his bed in the final days holding his hand, he said, “Don’t cry”. Sorry, Jim, that’s one promise that is going to be hard to keep. I love you so much and am going to miss you.God’s GardenGod looked around his garden And found an empty space. He then looked down upon the earth And saw your tired face. He put his arms around you And lifted you to rest. God’s garden must be beautiful, He always takes the best. He knew you were in pain, He knew you would never On earth get well again. He saw the road was getting rough And the hills were hard to climb, He closed your weary eyelids And whispered, “Peace be thine.” It broke our hearts to lose you, But you didn’t go alone Part of us went with you The day God called you home.Due to customization of the inurnment and pedestal, graveside services will not be held until late May, 2017.
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