John Thomas Jones

James Thomas J. T. Jones was born August 27, 1928 in Paris, Arkansas to James Arthur and Pauline Jones. J. T. spent his early years in Arkansas and then moved with his family to Sand Springs, Oklahoma as a teenager and attended Charles Page High School.

Upon completion of his education, J. T. entered into the service of his country in the United States Army and served for a short time before being medically discharged in Novmeber of 1946. He returned to Oklahoma and was married to Judith Ann Parker. The couple made initial home in Sand Springs and moved to Old Mannford in 1960. They had three children, Wayne, Tracy and Joel. During their marriage, J. T. worked as a carpenter for Sheffield Steel in Sand Springs for nearly thirty-one years, retiring in 1985. Judith preceded him in death in 1988.

J. T. was married to Charlotte Casey Jones on March 16, 1991 in Mannford, Oklahoma. The couple have made their home in Mannford and attended the New Hope Baptist Church. His hobbies included woodworking, singing, dancing and treasure hunting. J. T. was an avid treasure hunter and spent many hours searching for treasure in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas in his earlier days. He equipped an old school bus into a camper including a kitchen and bunk beds to transport his family to treasure hunting sites. He would on occasion purchase maps and used a metal detector to local hidden treasures. His passion for bluegrass music and attending festivals in his later years led to his enjoyment of karaoke which also enjoyed at his home. He also loved country music, especially Bob Will and his Texas Playboys.

J. T. passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 at the Cimarron Pointe Care Center in Mannford at the age of seventy-seven years, eight months and twenty-six days. In addition to his first wife, Judith, J. T. was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Sally Mooney and Nell Rose Kelley.

He is survived by his wife, Charlotte of the home; three children, Wayne Jones, Sapulpa, Oklahoma, Tracy Jones and her husband, Jim Wilkins, Mannford, Oklahoma, Joel and his wife, Crystal Jones, Sand Springs, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Chris Jones, Sapulpa, Oklahoma, Zachary Jones, Sand Springs, Oklahoma, Brooklyn Jones, Sand Springs, Oklahoma, and Evan Jones, Sand Springs, Oklahoma; great grandson, Dakota Jones, Garden City, Kansas; step-children, Teresa and Carroll Nichols, Mannford, Oklahoma, Martin and Chrystal Wheeler, Mannford, Oklahoma, Kevin and Theresa Wheeler, Mannford, Oklahoma; eight step-grandchildren and eleven step great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Mary Carolyn Duval, Sand Springs, Oklahoma and Inez Woods, Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, May 26, 2006 at the New Hope Baptist Church in Mannford with Rev. Bob Haley officiating. Burial will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.

Visit an online obituary and guestbook for J. T. Thomas at www.chapman-black.com.