Ray Jones

Ray Jones was the first son of ten children born to Garfield and Alice Pike Jones of Pleasant Hill, North Carolina, on November 8, 1943.

Spending most of his life in Jones County, he served in the United States Army for four active years after finishing school. His tour of duty led him to Japan, and he completed his military career with a two-year stint in the Reserves at Fort Bragg, NC.

Ray married Carolyn Elaine Jones in 1967. Together, they created a family of four and enjoyed forty-two years of marriage. They had a son, Duane Jones, and a daughter, Regina Ray Jones Turner.

Ray’s working life spanned farming, construction, and project management. He spent many years employed by Fluor Daniel, Inc. at DuPont and CA Lewis, Inc. After retirement, he made fishing and gardening his full-time occupation.

Ray Jones was widowed at age 66. In his own words, he was “doubly blessed” to find love again in his later years when he married Barbara Quinn Cooke and her family in December 2018. Together, they enjoyed road trips, cooking, dancing, and attending worship services at Believers Fellowship of Comfort.

Ray passed peacefully to his Heavenly home on Sunday, February 16, 2025.

He was an observant man who used his words purposefully. He was known for his loyalty, friendship, and genuine care for others. Skillful and meticulous in all that he did, Ray had a profound confidence in Christ. His faith was unwavering and evident to all. He was ready to meet Jesus and is forever victorious.

Preceding Ray in death were his parents; his first wife, Elaine; his siblings, Edith Catherine, Richard, Elizabeth, Barfield, and Raeford “Tad”; and his in-laws, Ronnie, Donald, Carol, Horace, Doug, and Lucion Jones, Lewis Murphy, and grandson Sawyer Quinn Thomas.

His life continues to be celebrated by his wife, Barbara Jones; his children, Duane Jones; Regina and Michael Turner; Joy and Jarrett Wynne; Holly and Robin Sanderson; and Jenny and Jeremy Rouse; his grandchildren, Rachel and Alice Lyn Turner; Kenly and Bryan Long; Karly Wynne; Mackenzie Thomas (fiancé Austin); Hanna and Shack Humphrey; Morgan and Blake Batchelor; Raegan Rouse (fiancé Carlie); and Cassidy Rouse; his great-grandchildren, Isaac, Jennings, and Dianna Long; and Baby Batchelor (on the way).

He is also survived by his siblings and in-laws: Ercel and Carlton Radford; Betty and Glenn Creel; Barbara and Merwin Sanders; Jack and Darnell Jones; Kathy Jones; Janet Jones; Winzell “Jr.” and Evelene Taylor; Judy Jones; Ricky Jones; Ellen Murphy; Rose and Bobby Murphy; and Michelle and Gary Mills; along with numerous nieces and nephews and a host of other loved family members.

The funeral service will be at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at Howard-Carter Funeral Home with visitation to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ray can be made to Believers Fellowship Church, 5222 Hwy 41 West, Trenton, North Carolina 28585.