ELGIN RAY (PUNK) JONES
Elgin Ray (Punk) Jones, age 93, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 at his home in Mentone, TX. He was born Sept. 25, 1927 in Coleman County to William Lafayette and Oddie Martha (Snedegar) Jones. Elgin married Mary Belle Steddum on June 7, 1950 in the Ibex Community and they shared 70 years together.
“Punk” as he was known to friends and family was a hard-working man. He always had at least two jobs and rarely sat still for very long. He was a lifelong rancher and took his stewardship of the land very seriously. Punk and Mary Belle started P&M Ranch in 1953 and grew it into a successful family business.
Punk was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving with the 3rd Engineer Combat Battalion stationed at Kokura, Kyusha, Japan and served in Law Enforcement for over 30 years.
During his life, he worked as a cowboy for many ranches including: The Pitchfork, The Four Sixes, The Swinson, The J.A’s, The Nell, The Matthews, The Matador, and many more.
Punk wore many hats that were more than just being a cowboy. He spent 28 years serving as the Sheriff in Loving County, 13 years working for Sinclair Oil and Gas, he drove a school bus, was county janitor, a constable, 4-H leader, and had an Associate Degree in Business from Ranger Junior College.
He was also a member of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers, the American Legion, Texas Groundwater Association, and a lifetime member of the Tax Assessor Collectors Association of Texas.
Punk was an elder of the Eastside Church of Christ where he showed a deep love of God and mankind. He was often found reading his Bible and imparting his years of wisdom to family and friends.
Punk enjoyed fishing and trapping hogs, he discovered the freshwater well field that supplies Mentone, and was a member of the Texas Sheriffs Association. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Punk is survived by his loving wife: Mary Belle Jones of Mentone, TX; children: Skeet Jones and wife Barbara of Mentone, TX., RayMona Moore and husband Stan of Amarillo, TX., Tom Jones and wife Karen of Mobeetie, TX., Richard Jones of Mentone, TX., and Mozelle Carr and husband John of Mentone, TX.; grandchildren: Matt and wife Rachel, Sarah and husband Andrew, Jacob, Jennifer and husband Toby, Audra and husband Sam, Sami, Erin and husband Matt, Buck and wife Renee, Brandon and wife Holly, Shane and husband John, Jessica and husband Casey, Caydee, RayChel and husband Wesley, and Will and wife Sydney; great-grandchildren: Levi, Olivia, Ezekiel, Zinnia, Elle, Will, Adeline, Thomas, Tori, Albany, Jackson, Brynlee, Wintana, Ivy, Zane, Lily, Ethan, Nathan, Trent, Vivienne, Alice, Violet, Georgia, Henry Elgin, Augustus, and Christian.
He was preceded in death by his parents: William and Oddie Jones; siblings: Sam, Bill, Allen, Callie, Vernon, and Dock; daughter-in-law: Liz Jones; and great-grandsons: Cole and Corbin Jones.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021 at the Mentone School Gym with Brother Monty Huffman officiating. There will be 100 percent Covid screening starting at 11:30 a.m. at the Mentone School Gym, as well as Free Covid testing to those that have a concern. Burial will follow at the P&M Jones Family Cemetery.
Pallbearers will include: Matt Jones, Jacob Jones, Buck Jones, Jennifer Grauberger, Caydee Carr, Will Carr, Thomas Jones and Brandon Jones. Honorary Pallbearers will include: Sarah Ryan, Audra Kirkendall, Sami Jones, Erin Walker, Shane Reese, Jessica Chervenka, and RayChel Lowrance.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sunset International Bible Institute Missionary Fund.
Arrangements are entrusted to Family Services Funeral Parlor and condolences may be sent to the family online at www.fs-fp.com. PD
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