JONES, James Acy (Jim)

McDougal's Caldwell Funeral Chapel, Safford, Arizona James A. Jones June 7, 1925 - May 31, 2013 James A. Jones, 87, of Safford, passed away Friday, May 31, 2013 in Safford. He was born on June 7, 1925 in Oklahoma. Funeral services will be conducted at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 10, 2013 at the First Southern Baptist Church in Thatcher, with Pastor Dustin Willey officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to services. Interment will be in the Safford Cemetery. ~~~~~~~~~ The Eastern Arizona Courier, Safford, Arizona ~ June 08, 2013 James Acy Jones (Jim), 87, of Safford, passed away on May, 31, 2013, surrounded by his loving family. Jim was born June 7, 1925, to Acy Lewis Jones and Lulu Belle Hunter in Tuttle, Okla. He was the oldest of six children. Jim enlisted in the Navy in March of 1942. He served on the USS Lafayette in the Pacific Theater until the war ended and he was discharged. He came to Arizona and immediately went to work for Mountain Bell Telephone Company. Jim continued to work for the telephone company through all its changes and retired with 37 years of service in 1983. Jim married Wilma Ingle in 1948 in Douglas. Wilma preceded him in death in 2007 after 59 years of marriage. He is survived by two sons, Darrell (Aberta) Jones, of De Soto, Kan., and Randall (Nellie) Jones of Safford; nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; one sister, Jean Dunn, of Oklahoma City, and one brother, Van Jones, of Fredericksburg, Va. Jim accepted Jesus as His Savior at the Elfrida Baptist Church in 1953 and from then on was very active in church wherever he lived. When he retired, he worked as a volunteer with the Mobil Missionary Assistance Program for 10 years. Jim loved the Lord, the mountains and hunting and fishing. He joined Wilma in heaven May 31, 2013, just seven days before his 88th birthday. Funeral services will be held at the First Southern Baptist Church in Thatcher, June 10, at 9 a.m. with Pastor Dustin Willey officiating with a visitation one-hour prior. Interment will follow in the Safford Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel. Online condolences may be given at www.caldwellfuneralchapel.com.