Arthur Thomas Jones || Obituary

Arthur Thomas Jones passed away peacefully in his home on the morning of Dec. 7, 2023.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, at Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home in Paris with Rev. Billy Norris officiating.  Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10 – 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Tigertown Cemetery.

Arthur, known to his family as “Cotton,” was born in Ladonia in April 1935. He was the oldest child of Lee Fondzo Jones and Lillie Staley Jones having three younger brothers, Carl, Don, and Alvin, and a sister, Sylvia. Arthur attended and graduated from Ladonia Public Schools.

Arthur married Robbie Jo Stephens on Aug. 30, 1958. They shared their lives until her death on Jan. 21, 2021, celebrating 62 years together.

Arthur, called “Art” by his friends of adulthood, loved life. He was an accomplished artist, specializing in outdoor scenes. He loved hunting, fishing, and anything that had to do with the outdoors. He had a small cattle breeding operation that Robbie assisted him with until his seventies. He was the quintessential Grandpa and loved children and animals. He was a great friend, having many, of all ages. He loved spending time with his friends and spent many happy hours in fellowship with them and his family. He was a member of The Paris Police Department’s Reserve Unit, serving the citizens of Paris for over 29 years, retiring in the early 90s as a Lieutenant and the Commander of the Unit.

As a young man, he worked for Austin Shoe Store in Paris for several years and then was drafted into the US Army where he served as a communications officer, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant. He continued his career, working for Famous Shoe Store in Paris and then for Sears Roebuck as the Sporting Goods Manager. He worked as a Security Guard for both Campbell Soup Company and later for Paris High School. He later transferred to a maintenance position with the school system from which he finally retired.

He attended South Side Baptist Church and was a member of the Paris Masonic Lodge as well as the Tigertown Masonic Lodge.

Art is survived by his grandson, Matthew Clark and wife Cindy of Farmersville; grandson, Brian Clark and wife Tina of Fort Worth; foster son, Terry Bull and wife Pam of Powderly; adopted granddaughter, Kaitlyn Stewart and husband Drake of Topeka Kansas; daughter-in-law, Judy Clark of Farmersville; and his beloved great-grandchildren, Brooke Clark, Caelyn Clark, Blake Clark, Chandler Rose Clark, Lacey Howell, Nate Clark, and Madison Clark.

Art is also survived by his brothers Jeff Jones (wife Neda) of Lamar County, Texas, and Greg Jones of Covington; sisters, Sylvia Covington of Arizona, Janice Ogden of Dallas, and Deidra Anderson (husband John) of Henderson; plus many more beloved nieces, nephews, friends, neighbors, hunting buddies, and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his wife Robbie Jo Jones; son, Brad Clark; three brothers, Carl Jones, Don Jones, and Alvin “Currey” Jones; and sister, Julie Jones.

Serving as pallbearers will be Terry Bull, Brian Clark, Matthew Clark, Gary Jones, Jeff Jones, and Gary Taylor.

The family would like to express a heartfelt thanks to Paulette Gomez and Miyoshi Preston, as well as to the employees of Waterford Hospice for their kindness and consideration during this time.

Online condolences may be sent to the Jones family by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com

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