Ray Clark Jones, age 88 of Flowery Branch, passed away Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at his residence following an extended illness.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 28, 2017 at 2:00 pm in the Chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home with Reverends John Batusic and Kennedy Smartt officiating. Interment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 27, 2017 from 6:00-8:00 pm at the funeral home.
Mr. Jones was born April 11, 1929 in Flowery Branch, Georgia to Clark T. Jones and Effie Bell (Barker) Jones. He retired from the poultry industry where he was President of J&S Farms. He was a member and elder of Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church. Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Jim Jones and Dean Jones; his sister Doris Jones; his grandchildren Matthew Patrick Jones and Kathryn Faith Jones.
Mr. Jones was a past director of the Jackson EMC, serving nearly 40 years on the board of directors. His professional career in Georgia’s poultry industry included serving as president of Crystal Farms, Inc. and Crystal Farms Mills, Inc., President of J&S Farms, director of the Georgia Egg Association, director of the American Egg Board, and secretary and director of the National Egg Company. A graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Jones also received a bachelor of science in agriculture education from the University of Georgia. Past community service includes: Northeast Georgia Medical Center trustee, Gainesville College Foundation trustee, First National Bank of Gainesville director, charter president of the South Hall Kiwanis Club, member of the Gainesville Kiwanis Club, and Rotary Club.
Ray Jones loved his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, his family, his community, and he invested his life in the lives of others. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Jones of Flowery Branch; sister, Dorothy Hamrick of Virginia; sister-in-law Jesse Cannon of Cleveland; sister-in-law Mary Jones of Flowery Branch; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Hoyt and Martha Allen of Atlanta; daughter and son-in-law Carol and Byron Howard of Dahlonega; son and daughter-in-law, David and Kathy Jones of Gainesville; daughter and son-in-law, Regina and Michael Armistead of Fayetteville, NC; grandchildren, Audrey Berzack, Emily Jones, Daniel & Jill Jones, Andrew Jones, Christopher Armistead, and Kevin Armistead; great-grandchildren, Nathan and Max Berzack, Dalton Jones, and a number of nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the caregivers of Open Hearts & Loving Hands for their caring support for the past 5 years.
Memorial gifts should be made to Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church.
Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA 30504 is in charge of arrangements.
Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.